The Mahaweli Development Project of Sri Lanka; a failure?

After effects of the Mahaweli Development   scheme (MDS)   " Hyper Eutrophy"             The MDS commenced in 1969 and after 48 years of its existence, whatever merits the government claims from the MDS, the government is frantically fighting a single handed battle, especially in the North central province (NCP) against Chromic Kidney Disease (CKD) , with all sorts of Internationally assisted 'remedies' and payments of Rs. 5000/- per patient monthly, to about 20,000 patients the majority of whom are now incapacitated for life and uncertain of a prolonged existence.             During   the times of the ancient Sinhala Kings,   Mahaweli Water was supplied   to the dry zone by diverting the waters of the Amban ganga by four anicut across it and its tributaries and of the Mahaweli by two anicuts across it. As the entire upper catchment of the Maha...

ANCIENT IRRIGATION SCHEMES BASED ON THE MAHAWELI GANGA.             The 'Mahaweli" Development Scheme (MDS) to provide water for dry zone, Agriculture, which commenced in 1969, is preceded by an Ancient Irrigation   scheme, which utilized the Mahaweli Ganga. The ancient chronicles, the Mahavansa, Culavansa, Pujawaliya etc, the notes by Sir Emerson Tennent and Mr. C.U.Nicholas and Survey work by Mr. Henry Parker and Dr.R.L. Brohier indicate that the Mahaweli Ganga and its tributary the Amban Ganga were the perennial sources of water for the intricate   irrigation network.             4 anicuts across the Amban Ganga and 2 across the Mahaweli Ganga fed seven channels while provided water and augmented a large number of major tanks and thousands of small tanks spread in the basins of the Kalaoya, Moderagam Aru, Malvatu Oya, Yan Oya, Kantale Oya, Amban Ganga and th...