Both upcoming cultivation seasons can be successfully managed without difficulty if the Maha season is commenced early and without delay, according to the Director of the Water Management Secretariat of the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, Nilantha Dhanapala.
This would help conserve a portion of the available water, allowing the subsequent Yala season to commence by March 15 or in early April, he said.
He made these remarks while participating in Ada Derana’s “Big Focus” programme.
Citing statistics, Engineer Dhanapala noted that the reservoirs under the Mahaweli system currently hold approximately 54% of their capacity, which remains a significant level. He added that the water capacity of the Walawe system stands at approximately 57%.
He further pointed out that rainfall is expected to increase during October and November, while the dry zone is likely to receive negligible rainfall between December and April.
Accordingly, he emphasised that both cultivation seasons can be successfully maintained by efficiently managing the available water resources, commencing the Maha season earlier than usual, and starting the Yala season ahead of its regular schedule.
