Annual Report 2010 - Ministry of Finance and Planning

Ministry of Finance and Planning Sri Lanka > Annual Report 2010Irrigation: Water is Our Heritageand LifeBeing the largest water user of the country, the irrigationsector makes a substantial contribution to the economy,through sustaining agricultural production by way of riceand other food crops. Irrigated Agriculture claims the majorshare of the island’s water use, accounting for 80 percentof total withdrawals. It provides water for an estimatedirrigated land area of about 600,000 ha. which producesabout 80 percent of the rice requirement of the countryand about 20 percent of other food crops. In addition,irrigation provides water for domestic and industries,livestock development, inland fisheries, eco-tourism andenrichment of the environment. Although hydropower isa non-consumptive water user, it requires public waterallocation through decisions to build dams and operatingrules through changing the flow pattern of rivers.Up to 2006, government investment in irrigation hasmainly focused on rehabilitation of existing irrigationschemes. Since, a considerable impact has notbeen received as expected through this, from 2006onwards, attention had been paid to invest through“Randora”, the national infrastructure developmentprogramme of the governmment, mainly on newreservoir constructions (multi-purpose irrigationschemes) in a Multi Sector Development Frame.As a result, during the 2006-2010 period, governmentinvestment on irrigation has been directed onconstruction of multipurpose irrigation schemes whilepaying attention to increase water use efficiency aswell as productivity improvement of water.Therefore, the achievements of the irrigation sectorduring the 2006-2010 period has provided thefoundation for the success of future initiatives of thissector.Investment highlights 2006-2010Over the last five years (2006-2010),public investment in the irrigationsector has been mainly focused onretaining as much as surface water,which flows to the sea by way ofrun off without being productivelyused. Therefore, irrigation investmenthas been directed towards theconstruction of new multi-purposereservoirs such as Moragahakandaand Kaluganga, Menik Ganga,Deduru Oya Rambukkan Oya andUma Oya Diversion, rehabilitationand improvement of existingreservoirs,schemes, dams andstructures and development of floodprotection, drainage and salt waterintrusion prevention schemes andcarrying out of research and feasibilitystudies etc.Rs.Bn.Chart 1.35 > Categories of Expenditure 2005 - 20109.008.007.006.005.004.003.002.001.000.002005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Construction of Major/ Medium IrrigationschemesRehabilitation of Irrigation SchemesSource: Department of National BudgetOperation & Maintanance activities/WaterManagementFeasibility, Research, Other studies & OtherCapital69