{"id":5972,"date":"2026-02-06T09:27:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T03:57:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/text-web.local\/?page_id=5972"},"modified":"2026-02-06T09:44:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T04:14:04","slug":"history-of-north-central-provinces-irrigation-department","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/irrigationdept.nc.gov.lk\/en_us\/history-of-north-central-provinces-irrigation-department\/","title":{"rendered":"History of North Central Provinces Irrigation Department"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"5972\" class=\"elementor elementor-5972\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4c92f79 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4c92f79\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-19092d25\" data-id=\"19092d25\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d403c0f elementor-widget elementor-widget-cz_gallery\" data-id=\"6d403c0f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"cz_gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cz_grid_p\"><div class=\"cz_grid cz_grid_1 clr cz_metro_3 cz_grid_c4 cz_grid_1_no_title cz_grid_1_mid tac\" data-gap=\"30\"><div class=\"cz_grid_item cz_grid_first\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-49ff311c elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"49ff311c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;mountains&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-bottom\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" opacity=\"0.33\" d=\"M473,67.3c-203.9,88.3-263.1-34-320.3,0C66,119.1,0,59.7,0,59.7V0h1000v59.7 c0,0-62.1,26.1-94.9,29.3c-32.8,3.3-62.8-12.3-75.8-22.1C806,49.6,745.3,8.7,694.9,4.7S492.4,59,473,67.3z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" opacity=\"0.66\" d=\"M734,67.3c-45.5,0-77.2-23.2-129.1-39.1c-28.6-8.7-150.3-10.1-254,39.1 s-91.7-34.4-149.2,0C115.7,118.3,0,39.8,0,39.8V0h1000v36.5c0,0-28.2-18.5-92.1-18.5C810.2,18.1,775.7,67.3,734,67.3z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M766.1,28.9c-200-57.5-266,65.5-395.1,19.5C242,1.8,242,5.4,184.8,20.6C128,35.8,132.3,44.9,89.9,52.5C28.6,63.7,0,0,0,0 h1000c0,0-9.9,40.9-83.6,48.1S829.6,47,766.1,28.9z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-71681374\" data-id=\"71681374\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-698299a8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"698299a8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 08-11-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">History of North Central Provinces Irrigation Department<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40e3319 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"40e3319\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-294ed0d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"294ed0d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-713e6ba elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"713e6ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 08-11-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"68\" data-end=\"405\">Although it is not possible to state exactly when and how the irrigation technology of Sri Lanka \u2014 a country with a long and proud history \u2014 began, archaeological and historical sources indicate that an organized irrigation industry with technical components originated during the reign of King Pandukabhaya and the surrounding period.<\/p><p data-start=\"407\" data-end=\"747\">From that time onward, the expansion of the irrigation system in Sri Lanka has played a key role in establishing the country\u2019s agricultural and industrial lifestyle. Irrigation became a major part of the daily lives of ordinary people and was also a fundamental factor in the nation\u2019s development process toward a self-sufficient economy.<\/p><p data-start=\"749\" data-end=\"1110\">With the introduction of the Provincial Council system under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka in 1987, the responsibility for inter-provincial irrigation projects was assigned to the Department of Irrigation and the Mahaweli Authority, according to Items 9 and 19 of List 1 (Provincial Council List) in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\" data-start=\"1112\" data-end=\"1512\">Meanwhile, the management and all responsibilities of non\u2013inter-provincial irrigation projects were assigned to the Provincial Councils. Accordingly, the Provincial Department of Irrigation of the North Central Province was established to manage irrigation projects within the province. Its legal authority was provided under the North Central Province Irrigation Management Statute No. 03 of 2009<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d247788 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d247788\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c0aa85 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2c0aa85\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-20d270b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"20d270b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 08-11-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"805\" height=\"1016\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D&#39;http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg&#39;%20width=&#39;805&#39;%20height=&#39;1016&#39;%20viewBox%3D&#39;0%200%20805%201016&#39;%2F%3E\" data-czlz data-src=\"https:\/\/irrigationdept.nc.gov.lk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Untitled-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5975\" alt=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/irrigationdept.nc.gov.lk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Untitled-1.jpg 805w, https:\/\/irrigationdept.nc.gov.lk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Untitled-1-238x300.jpg 238w, https:\/\/irrigationdept.nc.gov.lk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Untitled-1-768x969.jpg 768w, https:\/\/irrigationdept.nc.gov.lk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Untitled-1-10x12.jpg 10w, https:\/\/irrigationdept.nc.gov.lk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Untitled-1-600x757.jpg 600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 805px) 100vw, 805px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76ac3c3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"76ac3c3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8559c2c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8559c2c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"74\" data-end=\"344\">According to the Special Gazette Notification No. 1677\/31 issued on 2010\/10\/29, the North Central Provincial Department of Irrigation has been granted authority over 3,226 tanks (reservoirs). The department has the capacity to directly manage and maintain these tanks.<\/p><p data-start=\"346\" data-end=\"510\">In addition, there are several other tanks located within the North Central Province that were identified later and are not included in this gazette notification.<\/p><p data-start=\"512\" data-end=\"821\">Furthermore, within the North Central Province, there are about 12 major irrigation schemes and around 90 medium-scale irrigation schemes that are managed by the Department of Irrigation under the Central Government. A considerable number of tanks, including Kalawewa, are managed by the Mahaweli Authority.<\/p><p data-start=\"823\" data-end=\"1097\">For small- and medium-scale irrigation activities within the province, other agencies such as the Department of Agrarian Development, the Department of Wildlife Conservation, and the Forest Department also work in coordination with the Provincial Department of Irrigation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>History of North Central Provinces Irrigation Department Although it is not &#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5972","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/irrigationdept.nc.gov.lk\/en_us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5972","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/irrigationdept.nc.gov.lk\/en_us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/irrigationdept.nc.gov.lk\/en_us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/irrigationdept.nc.gov.lk\/en_us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/irrigationdept.nc.gov.lk\/en_us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5972"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/irrigationdept.nc.gov.lk\/en_us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5972\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5981,"href":"https:\/\/irrigationdept.nc.gov.lk\/en_us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5972\/revisions\/5981"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/irrigationdept.nc.gov.lk\/en_us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5972"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}