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Background
According to history, the diversion of the
river Euphrates for irrigation had been done as far back as 4500 B.C., in
Babylonia. Similarly, there had been river diversions in China, Egypt,
Pakistan and India in subsequent times. It is most likely that the art of
reservoir construction owes its origin to the early people of the
Euphrates valley. Earth dams for the storage of water for irrigation, as
attested both by history and the remnants of ancient structures, have been
used since the early days of civilization. However, techniques or
reservoir construction to regulate water for irrigation had been invented
by the ancient people of Ceylon in 400 B.C., by constructing the “Bisokotuwa”
or the sluice.
Irrigation in Sri Lanka had been practiced
for a period of more than 2500 years. The massive irrigation systems built
by our ancient kings made our people not to depend on external sources for
the purpose of feeding her people. Unfortunately after this illustrious
period from 500 BC to 1200 AD due to reasons not well known, the
irrigation systems in the country went into disuse and that glorious
hydraulic civilization collapsed.
During the colonial period, British
Governors realizing the great potential in the ancient irrigation works, a
separate department distinct from the former Public Works Department to
handle irrigation works, was established in 1900. Most of the British
Governors who served in Sri Lanka during the colonial administration
deserve the gratitude of the people of this country specially Sir Henry
Ward (1855-1869) and Sir William Gregory (1872-1877) regarding their
contribution to rehabilitate the ancient irrigation systems. Sir Henry
Ward allocated a fair portion of the country’s revenue towards the
restoration of ancient irrigation works and Sir William Gregory
successfully completed his programme of work
with equal vigour. In the early 1930-1940
period the need for the resettlement of the people in the Dry Zone of Sri
Lanka and greater emphasis on the local effort for food production
resulted in throwing the Irrigation Department to the front line of
development activity.
The Irrigation Department while exclusively
engaged in the restoration of our ancient irrigation systems during the
past 100 years celebrated her Golden Jubilee in1950, virtually coinciding
with the construction of the Gal Oya
reservoir. It was the first major multipurpose project ever undertaken in
this country. A careful analysis of the activities of the past in relation
to the organizational aspects shows that J.S. Kennedy (1935-1939) had a
vision to reorganize the Irrigation Department. His vision was implemented
by S.G. Taylor (1939-1950). The momentum gathered during Taylor’s time
was further accelerated by both W.T.I. Alagaratnam
(1952-1955) and A.E.C.de.S.
Gunasekera (1955-1965).
Between 1950 and 1975 departmental activities were focused towards
the construction and augmentation of major reservoirs such as
Kantale, Hurulu
Wewa, Padaviya,
Kaudulla, Rajangana
and Wahalkada. The contribution made by the
Irrigation Department in the planning and design of the
Uda Walawe
reservoir, Samanala Wewa
and the Mahaweli Development
Progoramme in the recent past, exhibited the
specialized technical knowledge gained by the departmental experts in the
planning and designing of water resources. The Irrigation Department was
the local agency that coordinated the Mahaweli
feasibility studies under U.N.D.P. assistance.
Objectives of the Irrigation Department
 Increasing the productivity
under major irrigation systems.
Raising the income and the living standard of the farmers.
Assessment of water in major river basins.
Integrated natural resource management in major irrigation systems.
Protection of land from flooding, water logging & salt water intrusion.
Functions of the Irrigation
Department
Planning, Design, Construction and Management of infrastructure
facilities
required to harness the surface water for land development.
Integrated natural and human resource management in major irrigation
systems in order to increase productivity.
Promoting participatory management in inter provincial irrigation
schemes.
Assessment of water resources in river basins for river basin
planning and
development, inclusive of stream flow forecasting and flood
warning.
Providing drainage facilities to low-lying coastal areas and preventing
of
flooding and salt water intrusion.
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