Ratnapura – May 29, 2025 — The Ratnapura District Coordination Committee has approved a key proposal to conduct a full feasibility study on the implementation of a dry dam system aimed at mitigating the recurring flood crisis in the district. The decision was made during the committee meeting held on May 28 at the District Secretariat Auditorium, under the chairmanship of Hon. Shantha Padmakumara, Member of Parliament for the Ratnapura District.
The proposal will now be formally submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, and the Department of Irrigation for further consideration and action.
Ratnapura Divisional Irrigation Engineer B.A. Sampath, delivering a special briefing during the session, explained that Ratnapura is one of the most flood-prone districts in the country, with residents experiencing some form of flooding almost annually. He emphasized that constructing three dry embankments at strategic locations, based on the results of a detailed feasibility study, could offer a viable long-term solution.
The region’s vulnerability to flooding stems largely from the Kalu River Basin, Sri Lanka’s fourth-largest river basin by area but the largest in terms of water volume discharged into the ocean. Covering approximately 2,600 square kilometers, the Kalu River originates from the Samanala mountain range and travels about 100 kilometers before emptying into the sea at Kalutara. Its journey through Ratnapura spans 36 kilometers along a steep gradient, contributing significantly to the intensity of floodwaters in the city.
Ratnapura receives disproportionately high rainfall, with the upper catchment areas of the Kalu River experiencing approximately 4,500 mm annually—more than double the national average of 2,000 mm. The devastating 2017 floods, which caused an estimated Rs. 80 billion in damage in the Kalu River basin alone, highlighted the urgent need for robust flood control measures.
Engineer Sampath described the proposed dry dam system as a non-permanent water retention method designed specifically for flood control. Water would be temporarily stored during peak rainfall events and gradually released as conditions stabilize. Unlike conventional dams, these structures do not maintain a constant reservoir, making them less disruptive to existing land use.
Importantly, land ownership on the proposed sites would remain unchanged. Although residential construction would be prohibited within the designated areas, landholders could continue using the land for agriculture and gem mining, provided that the crops grown are resilient to temporary submersion of up to 10 days.
The session was attended by several key figures, including Sabaragamuwa Province Governor Hon. Champa Janaki Rajaratne, Deputy Minister Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep, and Ratnapura District MPs Hon. D. Sunil Rajapaksa, Dr. Hon. Janaka Senaratne, Hon. G. Upul Kithsiri, Hon. L.R.K. Wasantha Pushpa Kumara, Attorney-at-Law Hon. R.G. Nilusha Lakmali, Hon. B. Ariyawansa, along with numerous senior government officials.
The proposed study represents a critical step toward safeguarding Ratnapura’s population, infrastructure, and economy from the devastating impact of seasonal floods, while also promoting sustainable land use and disaster resilience.
District Media Unit
District Secretariat – Ratnapura
Government Information Department
