• Priority also to clearing silt to restore capacity and proper functioning 

The Land and Irrigation Ministry stated the Government is focusing on restoring and properly maintaining existing tanks, while also planning to build new tanks only in carefully identified areas where there is a clear need.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the Deputy subject Minister Aravinda Senarath said that Sri Lanka already has tanks in many Districts, but that a major issue is the failure to maintain their full capacity over the years. “Many tanks have been filled with silt. Our first priority is to clear these tanks and restore their capacity so that they can function properly,” he said.

He added that the Government has no plan to build tanks in every District, noting that such an approach would not be necessary. However, he said that the authorities are identifying specific locations where additional tanks are required, and financial provisions have already been allocated to construct tanks in such areas.

The remarks come amid efforts by the Ministry to strengthen the country’s irrigation network through short-, medium-, and long-term measures, particularly in response to extreme weather events and climate-related risks. In the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah in November of last year (2025), the Ministry stated that it would take steps to improve the irrigation system so that they could withstand similar conditions in the future.

Sri Lanka’s irrigation system is among the oldest in Asia, dating back to ancient kings who built massive reservoirs such as Minneriya, the Kala Wewa, and the Parakrama Samudraya. These interconnected tanks formed one of the world’s earliest hydraulic civilisations, enabling water storage during dry periods and supporting agriculture. Many of these ancient structures remain in use today. Modern developments, particularly under the Mahaweli Development Programme, further expanded the system through river diversions, new reservoirs, and the opening up of agricultural land. Reservoirs such as Victoria, Kotmale, and Randenigala have contributed to flood control, hydropower generation, and irrigation across the dry zone.