Hydro power safe for now, but uncertainty remains: Mahaweli and Irrigation Dept.

Colombo, March 28 (Daily Mirror) - As dry weather continues across Sri Lanka, authorities say the country is still managing its water supply well. However, concerns are growing about whether this situation can continue if the dry conditions last longer.

The Mahaweli Authority’s Water Management Secretariat Director, Nilantha Danapala, said there is currently no severe drought in the country. He also said that hydroelectric power generation is not facing any problems at the moment.

However, he warned that a drought could still happen in the coming months, showing that the situation is not fully stable.

Some people are questioning these statements, as water levels in certain reservoirs are going down. Although officials say water is being released normally for electricity generation, concerns remain about how long this can continue.

The Kotmale Reservoir has recorded lower water levels compared to others. In contrast, reservoirs such as Victoria, Randenigala, and Samanalawewa are still in a stable condition.

Danapala also said that last year’s drought was eased by heavy rains from the Ditwah Cyclone. This shows that Sri Lanka depends a lot on rainfall to maintain its water supply.

Meanwhile, the Irrigation Department said that overall water storage in major reservoirs is at 76.74% of capacity. This means the country still has a reasonable amount of water available.

However, the situation is different in some areas. Districts like Anuradhapura, Kandy, and Badulla have high water levels above 90%. But Mannar and Puttalam have lower levels, at around 59.97% and 55.98%, which could become a concern if dry weather continues.

The department said it is monitoring 73 reservoirs across the country to make sure there is enough water for farming, daily use, and electricity.

Even though the current situation looks stable overall, experts say the uneven water levels across regions could create problems if there is no rain in the coming months.

Officials are hopeful that rain will come in April or May. But until then, the question remains—how long can the country manage its water supply under these dry conditions?