Sri Lanka: harnessing data for sustainable water management
FAO implemented the project KnoWat – Knowing Water Better from 2018 to 2022, with support from the Government of Germany. As a predecessor to ScaleWat, KnoWat worked to strengthen water governance and improve water resources management in Rwanda, Senegal and Sri Lanka. Through water accounting, water tenure assessments, geospatial analysis and stakeholder engagement, the project helped governments, local communities and water users better understand how water is accessed, allocated and managed in contexts of increasing scarcity and climate pressure.
In Sri Lanka, KnoWat focused on the Malwathu Oya River Basin, where agriculture and rural livelihoods depend heavily on reliable water resources. The project combined water accounting and auditing, governance assessments and innovative geospatial technologies to improve understanding of water availability and productivity.
Key results
- Conducted water tenure assessments to better understand access rights, water use practices and allocation mechanisms.
- Developed a national geospatial database based on FAO’s WaPOR platform, making Sri Lanka the first country in Asia with a WaPOR-based database.
- Conducted comprehensive water accounting and water resources assessments at national and basin levels.
- Identified development pathways for more sustainable agricultural growth in the basin.
- Trained government institutions and technical experts to use water productivity and water accounting data for decision-making.
Story from the field
The Malwathu Oya River supports approximately 200 000 people, most of whom rely on agriculture. Using remote sensing, water accounting and geospatial analysis, KnoWat helped stakeholders gain a clearer picture of how water is used across the basin. The project demonstrated how data-driven approaches can support more efficient water management, improve agricultural productivity and strengthen resilience to climate variability. More information on the project results in Sri Lanka can be found here.