Founding of IWMI In Sri Lanka

The parliamentary general elections in 1977 was a watershed in the political landscape of Sri Lanka. The government that came into power mid-year sought a more liberalized and open economy, and hence embarked on an ambitious program of economic development. Four national projects were created: export processing, urban development, housing for people and the Accelerated Mahaweli Development Program (AMDP), and these were earmarked for priority investment. By the early 1980s, with substantial support from multilateral and bilateral donors, the government was investing heavily in irrigation development and rehabilitation of existing systems. While the AMDP was the single biggest project undertaken, several other irrigation projects, large and small, were initiated to ensure a more equitable spread of the benefits. The ministries of Agriculture, Lands and Land Development, and Mahaweli Development shared responsibility for these initiatives. The unprecedented pace of development raised concerns among professionals and even donors about how improvements in productivity could be attained and, more importantly, made sustainable.