IRRIGATION Management Institute (IIMI) and the Tropical Agriculture Research Center (TARC), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, initiated a collaborative study in August 1991. This joint study is focused on small-scale tank irrigation systems which are spread over the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka, and is conducted with the assistance of Sri Lanka's Department of Agrarian Services

The core of this study involved an examination and analysis of certain key features of the traditional small tank cascade systems: a) the location and design of the systems in the past b) the hydro-system which considers the overall hydrological balance and groundwater conditions c) maintenance and tank use d) tank management and integration with local farming systems.

Water Is Vital To Life Sustenance. But Today The Serious Scarcity And More Seriously The Scarcity Amid Plenty Syndrome Of Drinking Water, Water For Plants And Sanitation, Convert The Situation To A Deep Crisis. Large Scale Abuses Of The Water Resource By The Modern Development Activities And Total Neglect Of The Traditional Water Structures Which Had Been Built For The Purposes Of Water Retention And Efficient Storage Besides Performing A Number Of Environmental Functions Which Ensured Sustainability, Is The Major Factor Responsible For The Serious Problem.The Book Attempt To Trace The Historical Processes Of Water Resourc Development And Initiate A Debate On The Integration Of Traditional System Of Water Harvesting With The Modern Methods. The People S Participation In Their Management Was A Key Factor Of The Success Of Traditional Systems. However, The Prospect Of The Sustainability Of Water Resource Development Is Weakened By De-Emphasizing The Social Absorption Of Irrigation Technology And Over Emphasizing The Engineering Solution To The Problem Of Water Resources.The Book Analyses The Causes Of Negligence And The Consequent Ignorance Of The Traditional Knowledge Of Water Resource Development In India. It Is Also Argued That The Sustainability Of Several Of The Old Systems Manifest That The Traditional Values If Integrated Properly Into The Modern Method Could Solve The Crisis Situation To Great Extent.

There is ample evidence to suggest that Sri Lanka’s climate has already changed. However, the bigger question of national importance is what Sri Lanka’s climate will look like in 50 or 100 years and how prepared the country is to face such changes. This report reviews the status of climate change (CC) research/activities in Sri Lanka in terms of observed and projected climatic changes, their impacts on water resources and agriculture, CC mitigation and adaptation, and research needs. The study also developed a pilot level CC Vulnerability Index, which was subsequently mapped at district level. The maps indicate that typical farming districts such as Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Moneragala, Ratnapura and Anuradhapura are the most vulnerable to CC due to their heavy reliance on primary agriculture.