The desert blooms while the ‘Indian Ocean’s Pearl’ withers

Our country the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’ is once again in the middle of spell of dry weather. Temperatures are soaring and authorities governing our water resources are demanding, people use water sparingly. They warn only very limited quantities of the precious liquid is available and that too, for only a short period of time.

The situation, according to the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NSWDB), is dire. The reason, technology for preserving water has not grown since the kings of old ushered in the era hydro irrigation schemes centuries ago. 

Our modern-day engineers and politicians have not been able to improvise or think beyond using the river waters of the country. Nor have we been able to maximise the way it is used for agricultural purposes. More often than not, gallons of water used in paddy cultivation runs waste in the same agricultural system used during times of yore, when populations were smaller and agricultural production a fraction of today’s needs.

Our past king’s concepts of making maximum use of the water from our rivers, streams and ample rainfall for agricultural use as well as for the needs of city dwellers, gave rise to the great irrigation systems. However today, our populations have increased as has the need of agricultural production, city and industrial needs. 

Yet, the sources of water have remained stagnant if not lessened in the face of climate change. Water usage has increased many times over, water management is not practiced, and the population has more than doubled. Should we be surprised therefore, that engineers at the NWSDB warn, our reservoirs hold water for only another 30 days.

A walk through the rural countryside, reveals dusty brown and parched stretches of land where once lush green fields stood. Agriculturalists (growers of crops), breeders of poultry, cattle and goats look on helplessly as they watch crops in their fields wither, and animals and birds grow weak and lose their capacity to produce to expectations.

In turn this shortage in food production necessarily leads to food shortages and rises in the cost of living. Already UNICEF reports show around 24 percent of the children in our country are suffering from acute malnourishment. The report adds that many parents, forgo meals to help provide basic food to their malnourished children.

Despite our country being blessed with between 900 to 5,000 mm of rainfall annually, and even the dry regions of the northeast and the southeast of the country receiving around 1,300 mm or less rainfall, we still rely heavily on imports of many essential food items. Our country imports approximately 40 percent of its total food needs. 

On the other hand in Oman (in the Middle East) and considered as a desert by our country which has not achieved total food self-sufficiency, has achieved an overall food self-sufficiency rate of over 65 percent. Yet Oman like many other Middle Eastern counties has very few rivers, receives an annual rainfall of between around 200 to 300 mm rainfall annually.

Saudi Arabia, another Middle Eastern country, exported agricultural products, and livestock products exceeding $5.7 billion in 2024. The Kingdom specialises in exporting dates, dairy products, eggs, fish, and various fruits and vegetables (such as tomatoes, potatoes, and onions) to international markets.

While we, in Sri Lanka, with a plentiful supply of ground and natural rainfall, face crop losses due to seasonal spells of dry weather. In the dry conditions of the Middle East the desert is blooming. Yet we in Sri Lanka with plentiful supplies of water are facing water cuts and losses in agricultural production due to a spell of dry weather.

The difference is that these countries make the best use of base facilities available to them. Sea water is desalinated for domestic and agricultural purposes. Sri Lanka is surrounded by the sea, but make little use of it. We run around like chickens with heads cut off, the moment a there is a shortage in rainfall.

In the Middle East there is a plentiful supply of fuel and oil. But these countries are making use of solar, wind and sea power to generate energy. In our own country our engineers and even our government does not seem to be interested in making use of these sources of energy, even though they are freely available. 

It is time for our country’s leaders to embrace available new technologies, and is time to take a lesson from our Middle Eastern brothers.