June 07, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s irrigation network remains in a favourable position for the ongoing Yala cultivation season, with water levels across the country’s principal reservoirs providing reassurance to farmers and agricultural planners.
The Department of Irrigation reported that nearly two-thirds of the combined capacity of the 73 major reservoirs under its administration is currently occupied. Officials indicated that the available reserves are sufficient to support irrigation requirements across key farming regions during the present cultivation period.
Several districts have recorded particularly high storage levels. Reservoirs in Kandy and Puttalam are operating at 93 per cent of capacity, while Anuradhapura and Kurunegala have reached 81 per cent and 86 per cent respectively. Other districts, including Badulla, Monaragala, Polonnaruwa and Mannar, have also maintained healthy storage volumes, reflecting favourable water availability in many agricultural zones.
Meanwhile, reservoir levels in Ampara and Matale remain comparatively lower, standing at 41 per cent and 49 per cent respectively. Despite these figures, authorities say current supplies are adequate to meet immediate irrigation demands.
The Department noted that recent rainfall has contributed significantly to replenishing water resources in several catchment areas, helping to strengthen reserves ahead of critical stages of cultivation. However, officials cautioned that weather forecasts suggest a possible reduction in rainfall over the coming weeks.
In light of these projections, farmers and the general public have been encouraged to practise responsible water management and avoid unnecessary wastage. Irrigation authorities stressed that careful utilisation of existing reserves will be essential to maintaining stable water supplies throughout the remainder of the Yala season, particularly if dry conditions persist longer than anticipated.
