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 to complete a decades-old program that is moving water from the wet zone to its dry zone through the country's largest river. The program benefitted dry zone is 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.