Small water storages are recognized as a key invention that facilitated the colonization of the dry zone of Sri Lanka. These small reservoirs, referred to as 'tanks', were initially constructed to collect the local runoff and this practice gradually evolved into the construction of larger tanks. Originally tanks were primarily managed by local communities to suit their livelihoods, often as linked Small Tank Cascade Systems (STCS). During the British colonial period, community-led management structures were disregarded and largely disbanded as government converted the governance of larger water storages into centrally managed structures. Since independence, the management of STCS has passed through various government agencies. This paper describes the management of STCS through history and identifies major issues in the current governance model and the challenges and opportunities associated with renewed interest in STCS to support adaptation to climate change. We conclude that contemporary challenges in using STCS for climate adaptation result from past inadequacies in the governance of this water resource.
Kekulandala, B; Jacobs, B; Cunningham, R
Management of small irrigation tank cascade systems (STCS) in Sri Lanka: past, present and future
Climate And Development