Background

May 27, 2008 - Sri Lanka depends on 350 medium and large dams to serve the critical energy, human and environmental needs of the country. The wide irrigation and water resources systems set up centuries ago have contributed significantly to the country’s economic growth and sustained human settlements, particularly in rural areas. In addition they provide flood control in the river basins. However, these dams are ageing, which makes dam safety a critical issue.

Challenge

- Establish sustainable institutional arrangements for safety management and operations and maintenance of major dams.
- Special focus on improving the safety of 32 high risk dams and the operational efficiency of 80 dams.
- The preparation of a National Water use plan.

“The challenge for the Project Management Unit and the project implementing agencies now is to strengthen their team effort to bring the project on a fast implementation track and achieve its expected outcomes and development objectives as early as possible” said Naoko Ishii, World bank Country Director, Sri Lanka. “The Bank’s designated team for the project will extend their fullest support to the Government’s effort toward this end” she added,” she added.

Approach

- Improving dam safety and operational efficiency;
- Upgrading and modernizing the existing hydro-meteorological information systems;
- Providing technical assistance for developing national water use plan and integrated water resources plans for two selected priority river basins; and
- Provide project support for management and monitoring.