Reservoirs 63% full, water secured for Yala season: Irrigation Department

Colombo, June 7 (Daily Mirror) - The 73 major reservoirs managed by the Irrigation Department have collectively reached 63 percent of their total storage capacity, providing sufficient water to meet irrigation requirements for the ongoing Yala cultivation season, officials said.

According to the department, reservoir storage levels remain encouraging across most districts, with Kandy and Puttalam recording the highest capacities at 93 percent, followed by Kurunegala (86%), Anuradhapura (81%), Monaragala (76%), Mannar (76%), Badulla (74%), Galle (72%), Polonnaruwa (71%), Trincomalee (68%), Matale (49%), and Ampara (41%).

Despite the healthy water reserves, the Irrigation Department has appealed to farmers and water users to use water prudently, warning that rainfall is expected to decline in the coming months.

Officials highlighted that careful water management will be essential to ensure adequate supplies throughout the cultivation season and to safeguard reservoir levels against potential dry weather conditions.