Friday Apr 03, 2026
Friday Apr 03, 2026
Friday, 3 April 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) yesterday announced scheduled water cuts in several Colombo suburbs, even as authorities step up efforts to manage water resources in the face of changing weather patterns and rising demand.
According to the NWSDB, three-hour water cuts will be imposed on an alternating-day basis from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. in Battaramulla, Pamankada, Wellawatte, Nawala, and surrounding areas until 10 April.
The restrictions come amid broader concerns over water availability, prompting a high-level discussion at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The meeting focused on water management strategies in light of anticipated climate variability, including the possible onset of El Niño conditions, and the upcoming Yala cultivation season. Officials reviewed rainfall projections and current reservoir levels, supported by statistical assessments, to guide decision-making.
Discussions centred on balancing competing demands, including ensuring uninterrupted hydropower generation, maintaining adequate drinking water supply, and releasing sufficient water for agricultural activities during the Yala season.
Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister K.D. Lalkantha, Ministry Secretary D.P. Wickremasinghe, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara, Mahaweli Authority Director General H.M.J.K. Herath, Irrigation Director General Kithsiri Weligepolage, NWSDB Chairman Eng. Chandana Bandara, along with a group of senior officials from relevant institutions, were present at the discussion, highlighting the cross-sectoral nature of the challenge as Sri Lanka navigates climate-related pressures on its water and energy systems.
