The Mahaweli Ganga Development Project. A Solution to Sri Lanka's Energy and Food Problems?

Abstract

The Government of Sri Lanka decided in 1977 to speed up considerably the Mahaweli Ganga Development Project which represents the largest development effort ever undertaken on the island. It aims at developing large parts of the dry zone through irrigation and agricultural settlement as well as satisfying the electricity needs of the nation by major hydro-electric installations. At present the government is concentrating on the so-called "Accelerated Programme" which includes the economically more promising part of the total project. Several major and minor dams on the Mahaweli Ganga river and its tributaries, as well as irrigation reservoirs will be constructed. In addition to the Polgolla dam and the Bowatenna hydro power station, almost completed and generating 40 MW, four more dams will provide 380 MW, a quantity sufficient to cover the electricity requirements of the country until about 1990. Irrigation and land development will permit settlement of 350 000 farmer families each with 1 ha irrigated and 0. 2 ha unirrigated land. In addition a service population of 150 000 families is expected to find gainful employment. In view of the scarce personnel and material resources of the nation the plan appears to be extremely ambitious even if major foreign assistance can be expected. Major concern is expressed that planning has been based on insufficient data.