FAOLEX Database

Sri Lanka - Aqualex Profiles

Framework Law

The main law applicable to water resources management, which covers all of the following areas: administration; management, conservation and use of freshwater resources; water rights; waterworks; water supply
No legislation available

Constitutional provisions

Constitution of Sri Lanka.
Date of original text: 04 March 1978 (2015)

Natural resources: Appendix II is concerns land and land settlement. It defines the competences and duties on these matters of the State and Provincial Councils. There shall be established a National Land Commission which shall be responsible for the formulation of national policy with regard to the use of State land. This Commission will include representatives of all Provincial Councils in the Island Provisions on Inter-Provincial Irrigation and Land Development Projects are laid down as well. Inter-Provincial Irrigation and Land Development Projects will comprise irrigation and land development schemes: a. within the Province initiated by the State and which utilize water from rivers flowing through more than one Province (a Provincial Council however, may also initiate irrigation and land development schemes within its Province utilizing water from such rivers); b. within the Province which utilize water through diversions from water systems from outside the Province.

Agriculture

Water used for irrigation, forestry and aquaculture
Irrigation Ordinance (Cap. 453).
Date of original text: 01 November 1946 (1973)
International Irrigation Management Institute (Amendment) Act, No. 50 of 2000
Date of text: 18 August 2000
Irrigation (Amendment) Act 1994 (No. 13 of 1994).
Date of text: 07 June 1994

Water Supply and Sanitation

Provision of water services by public utilities or commercial organizations; water supply for domestic, industrial or other purposes; right to safe and clean drinking water and basic sanitation; quality of piped water; sewerage
National Water Supply and Drainage Board Law, No. 2 of 1974.
Date of text: 01 November 1974
Water Resource Board (Amendment) Act, No. 42 of 1999.
Date of text: 30 November 1999
National Water Supply and Drainage Board (Amendment) Act, No. 13 of 1992.
Date of text: 11 March 1992

Governance

The political, social, economic and administrative systems that govern water management and conservation; good practices; good governance; decentralization; water user’s associations
National Water Supply and Drainage Board Law, No. 2 of 1974.
Date of text: 01 November 1974
Irrigation Ordinance (Cap. 453).
Date of original text: 01 November 1946 (1973)
International Irrigation Management Institute (Amendment) Act, No. 50 of 2000
Date of text: 18 August 2000

Infrastructure

Waterworks; water supply systems; dams; hydropower systems; irrigation systems
National Water Supply and Drainage Board Law, No. 2 of 1974.
Date of text: 01 November 1974
Irrigation Ordinance (Cap. 453).
Date of original text: 01 November 1946 (1973)
International Irrigation Management Institute (Amendment) Act, No. 50 of 2000
Date of text: 18 August 2000

Water Resources Management and Water Rights

Ownership and control of water resources; abstraction and diversion of water; allocation and quotas; riparian rights; priority of rights; free water use
Irrigation Ordinance (Cap. 453).
Date of original text: 01 November 1946 (1973)
Water Resource Board (Amendment) Act, No. 42 of 1999.
Date of text: 30 November 1999
Irrigation (Amendment) Act 1994 (No. 13 of 1994).
Date of text: 07 June 1994

Water and Environment

Water Resource Board (Amendment) Act, No. 42 of 1999.
Date of text: 30 November 1999
Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka Act 1979 (No. 23 of 1979).
Date of text: 19 April 1979
National Environmental Act 1980 (No. 47 of 1980).
Date of text: 04 March 1980

Water Quality and Pollution Control

Control of pollution and quality of freshwater bodies and groundwater; agricultural point and non-point sources of pollution; water quality standards
Prevention of Mosquito Breeding Act, 2007 (Act No. 11 of 2007).
Date of text: 11 April 2007
Water Resource Board (Amendment) Act, No. 42 of 1999.
Date of text: 30 November 1999
International Irrigation Management Institute Act No. 6 of 1985.
Date of text: 09 January 1985

Groundwater

Freshwater resources located below the surface of the earth; aquifers; groundwater abstraction; well-sinking; boreholes; hydrogeology
International Irrigation Management Institute (Amendment) Act, No. 50 of 2000
Date of text: 18 August 2000
Water Resource Board (Amendment) Act, No. 42 of 1999.
Date of text: 30 November 1999
Irrigation (Amendment) Act 1994 (No. 13 of 1994).
Date of text: 07 June 1994

Disaster Resilience

Water-related hazards; flood; drought; water shortage; adaptation to climate change; early warning system/emergency intervention system
Water Resources Board Act, No. 29 of 1964.
Date of text: 12 November 1964
Flood Protection Ordinance 1924 (No. 4 of 1924).
Date of original text: 06 May 1924 (2021)

Transboundary Waters

Transboundary effects; international basin institutions; international agreements; transboundary coordination; transboundary aquifers
No legislation available

Policies

Vision 2025 (A Country Enriched).
Date of text: 04 March 2021
Nationally Determined Contributions, September 2016.
Date of text: 01 September 2016
National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change Impacts in Sri Lanka: 2016 - 2025.
Date of text: 04 March 2021
National Policy on Protection and Conservation of Water Sources, their Catchments and Reservations in Sri Lanka 2014.
Date of text: 01 October 2014
Mahinda Chintana – Vision for the Future.
Date of text: 04 March 2021
National Action Plan For Haritha Lanka Programme 2009.
Date of text: 01 January 2009
Sri Lanka National Agricultural Policy (2007).
Date of text: 04 March 2021
National Environmental Policy and Strategies.
Date of text: 18 August 2003
National Policy for Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Sector 2001.
Date of text: 01 July 2001
National Drinking Water Policy.
Date of text: 04 March 2021

Main basins

No basins available