Sri Lanka : Water Resources Development Investment Program

Sovereign Project | 47381-003

ADB and the Government of Sri Lanka are working together to deliver surplus water from the Mahaweli river basin to its dry zone, where scarce supplies undermine agricultural output and household incomes. The Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program is helping the government complete a decades-old program that is moving water from the country's largest river to its dry zone, made up of North Central Province, Central Province, North Western Province and Eastern Province. The project is building more than 260 kilometers of new and upgraded canals, reservoirs, and other irrigation infrastructure. It is also helping to conduct studies on improving water management and delivery systems. In addition to providing more irrigation water, the project is delivering clean drinking water to over 350,000 people, resulting in improved community health in areas where chronic kidney diseases are prevalent. The long term goal of the project is to reduce poverty while boosting economic growth and food security.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Gore, Lance W.
    South Asia Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Sri Lanka
  • Modality
  • Sector
    • Agriculture, natural resources and rural development

Related Projects

Project Name Water Resources Development Investment Program
Project Number 47381-003
Country / Economy Sri Lanka
Project Status Closed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
TA 8633-SRI: Water Resources Development Investment Program
Technical Assistance Special Fund US$ 800,000.00
Strategic Agendas Environmentally sustainable growth
Inclusive economic growth
Drivers of Change Governance and capacity development
Knowledge solutions
Sector / Subsector

Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Irrigation - Rural flood protection - Water-based natural resources management
Gender No gender elements
Description ADB and the Government of Sri Lanka are working together to deliver surplus water from the Mahaweli river basin to its dry zone, where scarce supplies undermine agricultural output and household incomes. The Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program is helping the government complete a decades-old program that is moving water from the country's largest river to its dry zone, made up of North Central Province, Central Province, North Western Province and Eastern Province. The project is building more than 260 kilometers of new and upgraded canals, reservoirs, and other irrigation infrastructure. It is also helping to conduct studies on improving water management and delivery systems. In addition to providing more irrigation water, the project is delivering clean drinking water to over 350,000 people, resulting in improved community health in areas where chronic kidney diseases are prevalent. The long term goal of the project is to reduce poverty while boosting economic growth and food security.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy Sri Lanka has abundant water resources but they are not distributed evenly across the country. The dry zone region (including North Central Province, Central Province, North Western Province and Eastern Province) is home to nearly a third of the country's population, with 70% of rural dwellers dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. However, the zone receives less than 1,500 millimeters of rain per year, and droughts are common, which severely constrains agricultural output. Local communities have managed this water stress by building many small cascade systems of reservoirs, transfer canals, and irrigation schemes. These have been sufficient to provide supplementary irrigation for a single paddy crop each year, and limited storage for drinking water supply. In many places, communities rely on groundwater, some of which is contaminated, causing high incidences of chronic kidney disease. Lack of year-round access to water resources constrains the agricultural and commercial production of the region, suppressing social and economic development. As a result, average household incomes are around 10% lower than in other parts of the country. This situation is expected to worsen as the population grows and rainfall in the region diminishes further due to climate change.
Impact
Project Outcome
Description of Outcome
Progress Toward Outcome
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs
Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)
Geographical Location
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Involuntary Resettlement
Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design The primary stakeholders comprising the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, the Department of Irrigation and the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka are already involved with the technical design of the projects with due consideration for minimally affecting human settlements and managing the area of the elephant habitat that the humans have encroached upon. The affected families including the poor and the excluded will be involved in the investment program design with reference to developing a resettlement framework and the resettlement planning exercise. Farmer Organizations will be involved with the consulting package 'Improving System Efficiencies and Water Productivity.
During Project Implementation Stakeholder consultations will continue during project implementation and Farmer Organizations may be involved with civil works where appropriate.
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services All consulting activities will be carried out using ADB's Consulting Guidelines. Advance contracting will be used. Individual consultants were recruited to undertake the PPTA.
Procurement All procurement activities will be carried out using ADB Procurement Guidelines.
Responsible ADB Officer Gore, Lance W.
Responsible ADB Department South Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Environment, Natural Resources & Agriculture Division, SARD
Executing Agencies
Ministry of Irrigation (formerly Ministry of Mahaweli Development & Environment)
Timetable
Concept Clearance -
Fact Finding -
MRM -
Approval 02 Apr 2014
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 21 Sep 2015

TA 8633-SRI

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
02 Apr 2014 10 Apr 2014 10 Apr 2014 31 Mar 2015 31 Dec 2015 29 Feb 2016
Financing Plan/TA Utilization Cumulative Disbursements
ADB Cofinancing Counterpart Total Date Amount
Gov Beneficiaries Project Sponsor Others
800,000.00 0.00 50,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 850,000.00 17 Jun 2022 607,915.64

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Tenders

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Contracts Awarded

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Procurement Plan

None currently available.