Achieving reconciliation and coexistence with

Moragahakanda original concept

Wednesday, 16 May 2018

President Maithripala Sirisena at the inauguration of the Eighth Parliament

stated: “It must be acknowledged that managing the post-conflict situation is a
long and challenging process. When we assumed duties, that task had been
delayed for more than seven years. We have to eliminate the war mentality
which is embedded in our policy and replace it with reconciliation and
coexistence… It is my aim to realise these objectives while I’m in office,” the
President said.

War-affected north
The country suffered due to the 30-year war, but the worst affected was the
north. While losing numbers of the population, infrastructure, housing and
cultivations were devastated, making many others flee the country. The
Government has made efforts to reconcile and nearly 75% of military-held lands
were released to owners, over 50% of IDPs have been resettled, and 85% of
mine-contaminated lands in Jaffna cleared. Most members of LTTE cadres were
uneducated and from lower castes in a caste-dominated region. The result is
that over 50% ex-LTTE cadres are unemployed and have been refused
acceptance from their own society.

Most damaged Government buildings and roads have been rebuilt. But how
about other development? While huge development projects were launched in
the south, investments in the Northern Province is insignificant. Northerners too
are citizens of the country and they too contribute to indirect taxes and the
north needs be supported with a fair share of development funding. This
mismatch of funding surely would contribute to uneasiness in the north.

Cultivation in the north

Northerners are known to be hardworking farmers and used ground water
supplementing rains and cultivate onions, potatoes, chillies, maize, vegetables,
grapes, etc. Introduction of mechanical pumps over the decades has increased
groundwater withdrawal, resulting in seawater intrusion into the Jaffna
Peninsula, making some agricultural lands unsuitable for cultivation.

A large number of uneducated people in the north have no option but

agriculture, but are restricted by the availability of water. Rainfall in the north is
mostly limited to November-December and if a reliable water supply is
established, with availability of land, large-scale cultivations in the north will
ensure employment to all. Thus, supply of irrigation water to the north needs to
be considered as urgent.

Promise of Mahaweli water to the north

The original Mahaweli Diversion Plan proposed by Maithreepala Senanayaka,
Minister for Irrigation under the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Government in the
1970s, envisaged diversion of waters of Amban Ganga, a major tributary of
Mahaweli to the north, with dams at Moragahakanda and Kaluganga. The
collected waters to be transferred along the North Central Province (NCP) canal
to satisfy needs of farmers north of Medawachchiya, who receive lowest rainfall
in the country, the canal system leading water all the way to Iranamadu Tank.
The Sirimavo Government during 1973-’77 completed Mahaweli diversion from
Polgolla including Ukuwela and Bowatenna works, diverting water to
Kalawewa.

Mahaweli

diversion history
According to the Mahaweli Master Plan of 1968, the development of Mahaweli
was to be implemented as three projects; (a) Polgolla Diversion, (b) Victoria,
Minipe Diversion and (c) Moragahakanda Reservoir, to provide irrigation
facilities to North and North-Central Provinces.

After Sirimavo, J.R. Jayewardene Government, elected to power in 1977,

modified the original program, dropped Moragahakanda, under an accelerated
program completed dams and power plants at Victoria, Randenigala and
Rantembe and the Right Bank Channel delivering water to Maduru Oya and
System C, all in six years. These irrigation facilities are responsible for the
country achieving near self-sufficiency in rice. But 1983 riots suspended further
development activities in the country.

Japanese involvement
Communal riots in 1983 resulted most countries boycotting Sri Lanka, still the
Japanese were prepared to help and at the request of JRJ produced the
document ‘The Study on Extension of Moragahakanda Agricultural
Development Project Master Plan, July 1989’ by Japan International Corporation
Agency, available at open_jicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/10766186_01.pdf.

Japanese proposal
The Japanese plan was extremely complex and included:

(a) North-Central canal originating from Kaluganga/Moragahakanda

terminating at Medawachchiya.

(b) Raising Minipe anicut and a higher elevation canal parallel to existing
Minipe canal delivering water to Minneriya tank.

(c) Pump station to deliver wasting Mahaweli waters to NCP canal.

In addition, the NCP canal system would continue northwards joining

Kanaganaran Aru that feed Iranamadu Tank near Kilinochchi.

When the implementation was suspended due to ongoing war, the

understanding amongst the political rulers was to leave Moragahakanda waters
as part of the negotiations with Tamil parties during the final settlement of the
ethnic problem. The waters of Moragahakanda would be a gift to people in the
north from the Sinhala people for agreeing to settle the ethnic issue.

Although the Japanese proposal was not implemented, over the decades the
Mahaweli Authority’s plans for Moragahakanda water was based on Japanese
proposals.

Changes to

water distribution
When Moragahakanda foundation was laid in January 2007, Mahaweli
engineers had sufficient time to improve the Japanese proposal. After MR’s re-
election in 2010, the Mahaweli Ministry came under Chamal Rajapaksa, but
brother Basil ran the Ministry. After winning the 30-year war, thinking among
Rajapaksas was “water from Sinhala areas should not be given to Tamils”.
Under the instructions of Basil Rajapaksa and the President, water distribution
system was modified, leaving only drinking water to Iranamadu, meanwhile
construction of Moragahakanda dam continued.

Moragahakanda Project
Projects under Moragahakanda are an extremely complex system of water
distribution of Mahaweli and Amban Ganga waters. The system includes
transfer of Moragahakanda waters to North Central and Northern Provinces.
Another project proposes transfer waters from Randenigala to Kaluganga
reservoir, enabling greater power generation in Victoria and waters be still
available to distribution to the north. Also included in Phase 1 is the North
Western Province Canal diverting water from Dambulu Oya and existing
Nalanda Reservoir, which is really transfer of diverted Mahaweli waters from
Polgolla and independent of Moragahakanda.

For convenience of implementation the project was divided to three phases. But
the division overlooked the principal purpose envisaged in original planning;
supply of irrigation waters to regions north of Medawachchiya that receive
lowest rainfall in the country. As per the current programme north will receive
water only in 2032, if all plans go according to schedule.

Modified Moragahakanda plan was submitted to Asian Development Bank and

funding agreed for Phase 1 in 2013. Details of project is given below.

Phase 1 (2015 to 2024)

Projects to be completed by 2024 under ADB funding:

1.Kaluganga – Moragahakanda tunnel and transfer canal.

2.Construction of 65km Upper Elahera Canal (UEC) to transfer water from

Moragahakanda to Yakalla. At Yakalla water would be transferred to
Huruluwewa, Manankattiya reservoirs and through a feeder canal to
Mahakanadarawa tank.

3.North Western Province Canal diverting water from Dambulu Oya and existing
Nalanda Reservoir.

4.Raising existing weir height of Minipe anicut to improve diversion of

Mahaweli water and rehabilitate the 76km long ancient canal system.

Phase 2 (2024-2027), funding to be arranged.

Projects to be implemented:

1.First 30km of North Central Province Canal (NCPC) Project, transferring water
northwards from Yakalla to Kahatagasdigiliya located near Anuradhapura
Trincomalee road.

2.Canal to transfer water from Randenigala dam to Kalu Ganga reservoir (first
section).

3.Lower Uma Oya dam, tunnel and powerhouse to increase water supply to
Randenigala.

4.Pumping Mahaweli water at Kalinga Nuwara to Minneriya via Angamedilla,

also to UEC.
Phase 3 (2028-2032)

1.Balance works on the 40km long Randenigala-Kaluganga canal.

2.Final stretch of 60km long NCP canal, from Kahatagasdigiliya to

Chemadukulam reservoir, but half the canal length is still within NCP, providing
water to minor tanks in NCP. Balance water will follow natural drainage and
deliver 100 MCM/annum into Iranamadu Reservoir.

Major defect in Moragahakanda plan

Earlier Mahaweli projects as Polgolla Diversion and Accelerated Mahaweli
Programmes targeted in delivery of water to the project’s ultimate location;
water distribution to users was afterwards. But in the construction of
Moragahakanda dam, canal system to distribute stored water was neglected,
resulting Moragahakanda waters have no users until completion of Upper
Elahera Canal to Yakalla in 2024 (for part of water).

Construction of main distribution channels would be completed only in 2032,

meanwhile allowing various politicians and organisations to tamper with water
distribution. Earlier projects completed water main delivery network in less than
seven years. Moragahakanda project costing Rs. 61.2 billion, and water not
being issued to waiting farmers, results in poor return on investment.

The President originating from Polonnaruwa is also the Minister for Mahaweli
Development. He was very much interested in Moragahakanda and to
supplement irrigation waters to Polonnaruwa farmers. Moragahakanda project
is extremely complex and cannot be fully understood easily.

Under Phase 3, Iranamadu Tank is expected to receive 100 MCM/annum (million

cubic meters) in 2032 through Kanakanarayan Aru as drinking water.
Meanwhile under Phase 1, North Western Province Canal will deliver 130MCM
of water diverted from Dambulu Oya and existing Nalanda Reservoir (but
mostly diverted waters from Polgolla) in a project costing $ 200 million, the
project has no relation to Moragahakanda.

Moragahakanda water to southern

NCP in 2027
Completion of Phases 1 and 2 consuming 12 years, Moragahakanda waters will
reach only Kahatagasdigiliya, located east of Anuradhapura. All recipients are
current irrigation systems getting additional waters. Even under Phase 3, half of
60km long NCP canal will supply existing minor tanks in NCP and only remaining
water will reach Chemadukulam reservoir.

Water needs of northern farmers

When Moragahakanda was planned during the 1960s, the project was expected
to deliver water to country’s north beyond Medawachchiya receiving annual
rainfall of 1,200-1,500mm, whereas NCP receives 1,800-2,000mm. Current plans
propose issue of additional water to existing irrigation systems, promised by
politicians.

The Northern Province includes Jaffna peninsula, also Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu
Districts in the mainland. The north was not ruled by Sinhala kings and is
without irrigation schemes. Iranamadu tank in Kilinochchi was built by the
British. But water in Iranamadu tank is insufficient for cultivation of available
lands. Current ADB-aided programme of Jaffna water supply project expected to
transfer part of Iranamadu water is resented by the locals.

Waste of irrigation water by farmers

Among the world’s nations Sri Lanka is most fortunate to receive plentiful
rainfall. Our dry-zone receives more rain than most countries. Paddy cultivation
consumes largest quantum of water. With the mechanisation of paddy
cultivation and harvesting, farm labour is reduced to a minimum and farmers
prefer paddy cultivation.
In 1978, World Bank officials funding Accelerated Mahaweli under the JRJ
Government informed that Sri Lankan farmer consumes the highest quantum of
water in the world for paddy cultivation and emphasised the need to reduce for
the success of the Mahaweli programme. Japanese proposals in 1989 informed
supply of irrigation water to farmers should be only 60%. Farmers need to be
educated for better use of rainwater and coordinated cultivation practices, to
reduce water issue period from irrigation tanks, possible with current
mechanisation.

When additional waters are issued to thousands of minor irrigation systems in

NCP, farmers would shift over to paddy cultivation during both seasons. The
country is almost self-sufficient in rice, would result an excess over consumption.
Few years ago, excess rice had to be donated to UN as humanitarian aid as our
rice is unsuitable to export.

Uneasy Tamils and communal issues

Although the Government has carried out measures to address problems in the
north, uneasiness continues. Most issues are the result of destroyed housing,
disruption of education and agricultural works due to war; for helpless
population, scapegoat is the Government resulting uneasiness exploited by
politicians.

LTTE protest in London on the Independence Day resulted in the British

Government demanding removal of an Army officer, which indicates the British
reaction to a banned organisation. A few weeks ago when an explosion took
place in a bus at Diyatalawa, text messages claimed the explosion was the work
of the LTTE in revenge for the London incident, signalling undercurrents among
the Tamil community.

Recent communal unrest that erupted in Teldeniya and Kandy District between
Sinhala and Muslim communities indicates the underlying tension among
communities that needs urgent action from the Government; the country cannot
afford another crisis.
A lesson from 1970s
Declaring Sinhala Only as the official language by S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike
created unrest in the north. However, when the Sirimavo Bandaranaike
Government banned most imports during the 1971 to 1976 era, onions and
chillies arrived from Jaffna at exuberant prices, making Jaffna farmers rich.
During the period, northerners were too busy to protest.

Correcting the Rajapaksa blunder

Supply of cultivation water to the north will require correcting the deliberate
blunder made by Rajapaksa Government which refused to issue water to the
north after winning the war and diverted water to other regions, mostly as
additional waters to existing irrigation systems.

The current President who claimed “aim to reconciliation and co-existence to

realise objectives” could instruct Mahaweli engineers to expedite planning and
construction NCP canal from Yakalla to Chemadukulam reservoir and award the
construction contracts prior to ending of the current term of Government.

Installation of the

canal system
As currently planned, Upper Elahera Canal Phase 1 to Yakalla is expected to be
completed by 2024. UEC Phase 1 is the most complicated section having to cross
wild-life reservation areas as tunnels. Phase 2 and 3 have no such problems and
construction would be simpler. Also the design and planning of NCP canal must
be completed by now. Therefore, North Central Province Canal in Phase 2 (up to
Kahatagasdigiliya) and Phase 3 (up to Chemadukulam) can be completed
simultaneously to ensure, when Moragahakanda waters arrive at Yakalla in
2024, canal system allow diverted waters continue to Chemadukulam and to
Iranamadu.

The supply irrigation water to Jaffna would require pumping from Iranamadu.
The pumping would require much less power than the proposed pumping of
Mahaweli water at Kalinga Nuwara to Minneriya, due to lower head.

Funding the programme

The original project master plan for Moragahakanda Agricultural Development
was carried out by Japanese in 1989 and the Japan International Corporation
Agency is well-conversant of the project. Recent visits by Japanese businessmen
and officials indicate the keenness of Japanese to help and invest in Sri Lanka.
The 90km long canals (30 + 60 in Phases 1 and 2) could be awarded to number of
Japanese contractors simultaneously along with affiliated construction works.
The Japanese Government will agree to fund the project. Surely, if JRJ could
carry out the entire Accelerated Mahaweli in six years, a 90km-long canal
cannot be an engineering challenge.

North-south reconciliation
When Moragahakanda waters are delivered to the north as originally proposed
by Maithreepala Senanayaka in the 1960s, it will solve the drinking and
irrigation water problems in Kilinochchi and Jaffna districts; in addition will
arrest seawater intrusion into their farmlands.

When contracts are awarded to NCP canal in Phases 2 and 3, northerners will
have a definite target of getting water for cultivation. The hope of getting
ample cultivation water would disperse uneasiness in the north, as people could
hope for better living standards.

The northerners would be grateful to the President and the southerners for the
gesture and animosities will disappear, bonding north with south. They would
be mindful that their prosperity lies on the cordial relationship with the south
and dare not demand separatism anymore, leading to reconciliation between
north and south forever.
Posted by Thavam