This exploratory study was designed to capture the main features of agrarian change in the upper part of the basin that depends mostly on anicuts. These anicuts amount to 59 percent of the total basin anicuts in terms of numbers, but to only 43 percent in terms of irrigated area. They are generally very old (the history of some of them goes back to 2000 years; see below) and obviously, many changes have occurred during this time.

This report is based on a research project financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to conduct a regional study for the development of effective water management institutions (ADBRETA no 5812). Research activities were conducted in five river basins in Indonesia, the Philippines, Nepal, China and Sri Lanka for a period of three years commencing from 1999. The river basin studied in Sri Lanka was the Deduru Oya river basin in the North Western Province of the country. This report contains the findings of the Deduru Oya basin study.

Regional study implemented by IWMI with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (RETA 5812)

Regional study implemented by IWMI with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (RETA 5812)

Regional study implemented by IWMI with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (RETA 5812)

Regional study implemented by IWMI with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (RETA 5812)

Regional study implemented by IWMI with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (RETA 5812)