The equitable sharing of water stored in the upper reaches of the Ampara district, which is predominantly Sinhalese, with the Tamil and Muslim communities in the lower coastal area in the Batticaloa district, is a powerful factor in maintaining peace and harmony in the eastern province, Dr. Hilmy Sally, independent irrigation and water management professional recently said at a conference organized by the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL).

Sally who was speaking on how water can be used to promote peace said that Sri Lanka has a historic tradition of this.

“The pinthaliya placed at the village can be considered as a water for peace,” he said.

He pointed out that the Senanayaka Samudraya, Sri Lanka’s largest reservoir located in Ampara, provides water for agricultural and drinking water requirements of all three major communities.

“In early 2000, the water from Nachchaduwa in the Upper Malwathu Oya basin where the Sinhalese live was released to satisfy the water needs of Tamil farmers in the lower Malwathu Oya basin and as a gesture of thanks and goodwill, the Tamil community actively participated in the annual ‘Poson dansela’. These examples show the pivotal role that water can play in promoting reconciliation and long lasting peace, and fostering a common Sri Lankan identity,” Sally said.

Dr. Sally said the Mahaweli Development Project was designed to divert excess water in the Mahaweli River basin to the dry areas of the North Central, Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka. However, even after 50 years of the commencement of the project, several sub-projects, especially in the North, have not been implemented.

“So the driest and most water needy areas still wait for water because the North Central Province Canal project has not been established. The North Central Province canal component includes water transfer over 200 kilometres from South to North. 70 percent from gravity transfer from Randenigala Reservoir and the rest through pumping from lower Mahaweli River at Janaranjana Wewa. The implementation has been delayed for several reasons. There are unsubstantiated objections about the cost of water lifting and inadequacy of water for the North Central Province Canal diversion,” he said.

He added that there is also fear among professionals and communities of the Northern Province that the canal command may declare a Mahaweli area which will place the land under the Mahaweli Authority. They believe this will lead to loss of control of lands under the Northern Provincial Council, Sally said.

“The canal project could have lifted the farming communities living in the Northern Province,” he said.

The expert said that Sri Lanka is rich in water resources but has issues with water stress. Sri Lanka also ranks high as a hotspot on the Global Climate Risk Index, specifically in regard to climate change induced risks to water.

“Climate externalities create vulnerability in the country’s water infrastructure and water security. This can lead to severe consequences for lives and livelihoods, especially in sectors like agriculture. There is an urgent need for strategies to move from water risk and conflict to water cooperation and understanding,” he said.

Sally said conflicts and disputes are often brought on by competing interests and not necessarily because there is too little water. Sri Lanka has multiple levels of decentralization and there is also unclear demarcation of roles and responsibilities at each level.

“There is a lack of integrated technological and institutional framework to promote sustainable resource management in Sri Lanka,” he said.

Sally said local communities are not always consulted in decision making about ‘their’ water although these communities ultimately have to bear the costs and impacts of some of these projects. (RK)