1. An overview of Present Dam Safety Management in Sri Lanka Badra Kamaladasa Sri Lanka National Committee of Large Dams

2. How many Dams in Sri Lanka? Medium and Large -320 Earth dams-307 Concrete gravity -08 Concrete double arch -01 rockfill -04 Small 12,000

3. Different categorizations Ancient dams – Original construction centuries ago, restored in 1850 onwards Recent dams – located in new places where no ancient dams existed Modern dams - dams with new technology Large Dams according to ICOLD classifications- 76

4. Who are the guardians? Irrigation Department Mahaweli authority Agrarian Development Department Provincial Councils Ceylon Electricity Board National Water Supply & Drainage Board Farmer Organisations NO PRIVATE OWNERS

5. Management Structure Irrigation Department Regional set up to cover whole country Practices and procedures developed over decades Services by Specialized Divisions Mahaweli Authority Engineers in charge at every major dam Practices and procedures developed over decades In house as well as Independent Inspection Team Agrarian Development Department Regional set up to cover whole country No regular inspection mechanism/Schemes are handed over to FOO Provincial Councils Different setups in different PCC Ceylon Electricity Board Outsource the relevant jobs until recently Established the dam safety organisation recently National Water Supply and Drainage Board Dam Safety function is diluted in the civil maintenance Farmer Organisations No definite setup

6. Financial capabilities Irrigation DepartmentLimited government funds (exclusively for dam safety) Mahaweli AuthorityLimited government funds (exclusively for dam safety) Agrarian Development Department Limited government funds (in a common budget) Ceylon Electricity BoardLiberal (even to get Loan facilities) Provincial CouncilsLimited central government /PCC allocation National Water Supply and Drainage Board Limited government funds Farmer OrganisationsNo funds

7. Technical capabilities Farmer Organisations – No technical background Agrarian Development Department – Dam Safety function is not identified National Water Supply and Drainage Board – Dam Safety function not identified, scope available to develop skill Provincial Council – Dam Safety function identified in certain PCC, Ceylon Electricity Board -Dam Safety function identified, scope available to develop skill Mahaweli Authority -Trained and Skilled group leaving / limited opportunities for newcomers Irrigation Department -Trained and Skilled group leaving / In a better position that other organisations/ limited opportunities for newcomers

8. Shortcomings Technical competency Financial limitations Absence of island wide national standards for designs Constructions Absence of island wide mechanism and standards for safety management Ambiguity over ownership and authority Priority always for water storage

9. Concluding Remark Absence of an independent regulatory authority Regulation done by the implementation agency itself Media becoming the pseudo regulating authority