- Political stalemate stalls vital ‘dry dam’ flood control project
- Has potential to save Rs. 4 b annually with long-term solutions
In 2003, when critical floods hit Ratnapura, all books, clothes and toys of Isuru Dassanayake, who was eight-years-old then, were destroyed. He remembers how his parents, elder siblings and neighbours shed tears and sweat to clean houses and replace whatever that washed away in the floods. Last month (May), torrential rains put Dassanayake’s house under flood waters, and now Dassanayake, a 29-year-old man, together with his neighbours, have followed the same chorus for 21 years.
Every monsoon season, the people of the Ratnapura Town and the surrounding areas brace themselves for the inevitable. For residents like Dassanayake, this annual ordeal is beyond a meme shared on social media about Ratnapura. “Ratnapura is known for two things: gems and floods. As soon as there is rainy weather in the country, people start talking about Ratnapura on social media platforms,” he laments.
For thousands of Ratnapura residents, this annual ordeal has become ‘normal’ as they believe or are made to believe that there is no solution. “When floods occur, various politicians come with relief packages. Not only my parents, even my grandparents were told by these politicians that they would solve this issue. All we know is that we will see no end to this matter. If there is a solution, why can’t they implement it?,” Dassanayake queried.
Geographical vulnerability
Located in the Sabaragamuwa Province, the geographical location of Ratnapura exacerbates its flooding-related issues, as the town is situated at the confluence of the Wey River (Ganga) and the Kalu River. Both of these river catchment areas include regions with steep slopes, causing the town to flood rapidly, often within a few hours, during periods of heavy rainfall. Ratnapura often experiences two major flood events during the year, with one occurring between May and June and the other between September and October. Primarily caused by heavy rainfall and the overflow of the Kalu River, these floods often lead to significant damage in both the town and the surrounding areas.
The recurring flood issue in Ratnapura is fundamentally a technical, yet manageable, issue, exacerbated by the region’s unique geographical features, as explained by an official from the National Building Research Organisation’s (NBRO) Ratnapura District Office. He said that Ratnapura’s location at about 130 metres (m) above the sea level plays a critical role in the occurrence of floods. “Ratnapura is only 130 m above the sea level, and the distance from Ratnapura to Kalutara is about 43 kilometres (km) to the point where the Kalu River meets the sea. All that water has to flow from a mere height of 130 m.” He further said that the region surrounding Ratnapura, including areas like the Rakwana Mountain range, Kalawana, the Sinharaja Rainforest, Weligepola, Opanayake, Balangoda, the Adam’s Peak, and Erathna, receives significantly high rainfall. “All that water, flowing from these areas which are about 500 to 600 m above the sea level, flows down to Ratnapura and the surrounding areas at a high speed, creating floods within an hour or two at times of high rainfall.” However, the NBRO official emphasised that this issue is manageable with strategic interventions. “If the water is released little by little, this problem can be mitigated.”
Situation in Ratnapura
According to a paper presented by W.Y.J. Hettiwaththa and R.A.B. Abeygunawardana of the Department of Statistics of the University of Colombo, titled ‘Measuring the Flood Risk in the Ratnapura Town Area’, Ratnapura District has faced more than 50 flood-related events in the past two decades.
One of the most catastrophic floods in its history was in 2003. The sheer scale of the 2003 floods is evident from the figures: 34,473 families were affected, and 122 lives were lost. A total of 2,544 houses were fully damaged, and another 8,683 were partially damaged. Schools and wells were also significantly impacted, with 47 schools and 4,452 wells damaged.
Subsequent floods continued to ravage Ratnapura. When considering recent years, in May, 2016, the floods affected 4,564 families comprised of 18,035 members, and resulted in two deaths. A total of 66 houses were fully damaged, and another 473 houses were partially damaged. There were 40 safety centres set up, accommodating 4,754 people from 1,287 families.
The floods of May 2017, were also devastating, affecting a total of 60,094 families with 235,709 members. There were 86 deaths and 99 incidents of people sustaining injuries. The floods fully damaged 932 houses and partially damaged 14,386. Additionally, 2,977 small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) were impacted. The disaster led to the establishment of 213 safety centres, sheltering 38,868 people belonging to 10,713 families.
During the floods in May 2020, 9,716 persons were affected, and there were two deaths. The floods in March 2021, affected 2,501 families, comprising 9,764 persons, and resulted in four fully damaged houses and 690 partially damaged houses. A total of 67 SMEs were also affected.
The April 2022 floods saw 3,873 families affected, including 15,252 persons. There were two deaths and injuries each. The floods partially damaged 1,042 houses and 132 SMEs, and critical infrastructure suffered nine instances of damage.
The June floods of last year (2023) affected 508 families, totaling 1,896 members, and resulted in two deaths. A total of 176 houses were partially damaged, and 15 SMEs were affected.
The most recent floods in Ratnapura early this month were particularly severe, affecting 15,633 families with 59,782 members. There were seven deaths and 19 injuries. The floods fully damaged 31 houses and partially damaged 2,734. Additionally, 336 SMEs were impacted, and 74 instances of critical infrastructure damage were recorded.
Econ. & social costs
The economic toll was immense, with total damages estimated at Rs. 1.1 billion in 2003 alone while the housing sector damages alone accounted for Rs. 600 million. Other significant damages in the same year included rural roads (Rs. 144 million), the electricity network (Rs. 62 million), and various irrigation schemes (Rs. 33 million).
The Disaster Management Centre’s (DMC) Ratnapura District Office stated that the Government is allocating funds almost every year to provide relief to those affected by natural disasters in the Ratnapura District, mainly floods and landslides. The relief efforts have included various programmes such as providing cooked food, distributing dry rations, compensating families for deaths and injuries, donating kitchen utensils, and supplying drinking water. The reports available on the National Disaster Relief Service Centre’s (NDRSC) official website reveal that in 2014, Rs. 6.48 million was spent on providing relief to those affected by floods in Ratnapura, followed by Rs. 2.5 million in 2015, and Rs. 3.67 million in 2016. The expenditure surged to Rs. 286.28 million in 2017 and Rs. 77.79 million in 2018. In 2019, an approximate sum of Rs. 199 million was allocated to provide relief to those affected due to natural disasters including floods and landslides in the Ratnapura District. The following year (2020), saw Rs. 57 million allocated for the Ratnapura District, and in 2021, an approximate sum of Rs. 20 million was allocated. Accordingly, a sum of about Rs. 6.5 billion was spent by the Government to provide relief to flood-affected people in Ratnapura during the course of seven years.
The impact of floods extends beyond the Government’s expenditure, as per the annual reports prepared by the NDRSC, encompassing widespread damage to houses, businesses, infrastructure, roads and bridges, and educational facilities. Such damages result in an estimated annual loss of about Rs. 3 billion. Moreover, flood-affected communities endure profound social and psychological challenges, including disruptions to livelihoods, educational setbacks for children, and increased health risks due to post-flood disease outbreaks.
Impact of gem mining
Engineer Dr. Tissa Liyanage, who is constantly researching the gem industry and related issues, highlighted that unregulated gem mining activities have exacerbated the flood problem in Ratnapura. He said that gem mining has surged in popularity recently due to the extensive use of machinery for rapid, mass scale gem extraction. However, he said that the machinery and methods currently employed are not environmentally sustainable. “Unlike traditional gem mining, which incorporated numerous protective measures to safeguard the environment, modern high-tech extraction methods lack such precautions. Consequently, the sensitive soil layers become destroyed and the waterways get blocked, leading to a host of adverse consequences including floods.” In contemporary times, he said that the majority of individuals involved in gem mining focus solely on excavating, identifying gem bearing layers, washing them using machinery, and extracting gems. “They demonstrate little concern for the broader consequences of their actions. Despite the recognised environmental risks associated with machine-driven gem mining, along with suggested alternative approaches, industry participants show a disinterest in implementing these measures. Following their mining activities, they typically abandon the land without taking steps to address the resulting environmental degradation.”
An unfinished vision
A former gem miner from the Malwala area in Ratnapura, now residing in Godakawela, S.G. Karunaratne recalled that slain Parliamentarian Nalanda Ellawala had proposed a progressive plan in the early 1990s to tackle the flood-related issue. However, this plan never came to fruition due to his (Ellawala) untimely demise in February 1997. Meanwhile, a staffer of Ellawala, Lakshman Peiris, claimed that it was Ellawala’s father, the late MP Nanda Sydney Ellawala who was the first to propose a solution to address the persistent flood-related issue in Ratnapura. “His proposal included straightening a significant bend in the Kalu River near the market. This bend had been a major cause of flooding, and straightening it was seen as a crucial step in mitigating flood-related risks. Unfortunately, the Governments in the 1970s halted these efforts, leaving the project incomplete.” He further said that Nalanda Ellawala revived his father’s initiative in the 1990s, with a detailed proposal being submitted to the Parliament. “Following his proposal, a survey was conducted in the Palabaddala area, and it was proposed to block the Kalu River in the Palabaddala area. If that project was completed, the existing Palabaddala-Ratnapura Road would have been lost. As a solution to that, an alternative road was constructed, linking Kuruwita and Palabaddala. That Road is still in use. Despite these successes, the project remained unfinished with Ellawala’s death and subsequent Government changes.”
The ‘dried up’ dry dam
The flooding issue in Ratnapura has a solution that has long been overlooked: the construction of a dry dam, a type of dam constructed specifically for flood control. Unlike traditional dams, dry dams typically contain no gates or turbines and are designed to allow the channel to flow freely under normal conditions. During periods of intense rainfall, which would otherwise lead to flooding, it holds back the excess water and releases it downstream at a controlled level. However, the said project has been stalled due to a contentious issue involving about 600 houses located in the Malwala, Kalawana, and Ayagama areas, which would need to be relocated to make way for the dam.
When contacted, Ratnapura District MP and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Alleviating the Impact of the Economic Crisis, Gamini Waleboda, emphasised that solutions to the flooding issue in Ratnapura exist, but that none of the political leaders representing the district have adopted a long-term approach to flood prevention or management. “Plans were made to temporarily dam the rivers to hold back the water. Various proposals made since the 1960s included building reservoirs, generating hydropower, and directing water to areas like Hambantota and Colombo. However, these solutions are very costly. The practical approach is to temporarily contain the water in the rivers and to release it gradually. Floods occur because a large volume of water flows through within a short span of time,” he explained. He highlighted that the construction of a dry dam has been identified as the most feasible and effective solution to the issue, but that progress has stalled due to a lack of funds and political apathy. “The latest proposal was submitted and approved by the Ratnapura District Coordination Committee in 2020. About Rs. 200 million is needed to study its feasibility. Government agencies can handle that, but, a request for that sum from former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was not granted. Later, President Ranil Wickremesinghe allocated Rs. 50 million in 2023, with a plan to allocate the remaining Rs. 150 million this year, but this did not happen either. Ironically, this has occurred when the Minister of Irrigation, attorney Pavithra Devi Wanniarachchi is also from Ratnapura.” In addition to the lack of funds, Waleboda pointed out that political disinterest is partly due to local opposition to the project. “If this project is implemented, the rivers should be dammed in areas like Malwala, Ayagama, and Kalawana. There are about 600 houses that would need to be relocated during the construction. The residents are opposing the project, and the politicians are afraid of losing votes,” he said. “The best solution to the issue of flooding in Ratnapura is to construct a dry dam. There is even a specific location identified for constructing this dry dam, but the reluctance of political leaders to facilitate its execution has been a significant barrier. Some of them are not interested in the issue, while others fear losing votes if they do. Relocating the residents of the houses that would be affected is absolutely doable. In the past, there have been instances where entire villages were relocated for the construction of dams. Yet now, the entire community of Ratnapura continues to suffer from severe flooding to save those houses,” a former Ratnapura Divisional Secretary, who wished to remain anonymous, also said.
Challenges of long-term project implementation
Commenting on the efforts made during the 2015-2019 period to resolve the flood-related issue in Ratnapura, the then Minister of Megapolis and Western Development and incumbent Opposition MP Patali Champika Ranawaka said that it was planned to redirect the excess water of the Kalu River to the Udawalawe area through a tributary, and from there to the Hambantota and Monaragala areas. “The people opposed the implementation of this project, and certain politicians were also behind it. There is another issue. That is that these projects can’t be completed in one or two years. It takes at least 10 years, but a Government is in power for only five years, so how can the project which needs 10-years to be completed, be completed within five years?”
That successive Governments often lack interest in the continuous implementation and completion of long-term projects that benefit the people is a serious issue in the country. Most such projects are either abandoned or left incomplete, depriving the community of their potential benefits. Politicians often prioritise short-term gains that can be realised within their tenure, aiming to secure immediate public approval and votes. For genuine progress, it is imperative that political authorities adopt a more visionary approach. They must prioritise the welfare of the people over political gains and ensure that projects, especially those with significant long-term benefits, are carried forward seamlessly across different administrations.
Potential benefits of a lasting solution
The residents of Ratnapura are not asking for miracles. They seek committed political leadership that prioritises the wellbeing of the many over the interests of a few. Transparent communication, collaborative problem solving, and the courage to take necessary but potentially unpopular decisions are crucial. As Ratnapura continues to suffer from frequent floods, the call for responsible leadership grows louder. Going beyond a mere technical solution, the proposed construction of the dry dam also represents a litmus test for the political will and integrity. The people of Ratnapura deserve politicians who act not just for the next election but for the next generation.
Claiming that Ratnapura remains one of the poorest districts in Sri Lanka despite generating substantial wealth, MP Waleboda emphasised that political leaders of the district must bear full responsibility for this situation. “They lacked vision in the past and continue to lack it today. These leaders have perpetuated poverty as a means to maintain their power. Ratnapura is a gem, contributing significantly to Sri Lanka’s economy with approximately United States Dollars ($) 500 million worth of gems exported annually. Despite this, none of the revenue is reinvested into Ratnapura. The town, which is the commercial hub of the district, is the most vulnerable to frequent flooding, so how can economic growth be achieved?”
Addressing the flooding-related issue in Ratnapura with a lasting solution would save the country about Rs. 4 billion annually including an approximate sum of Rs. 1 billion spent annually by the Government on flood relief, allowing these funds to in turn be redirected towards more forward looking initiatives, such as improving the education sector.
Attempts to contact several politicians representing the Ratnapura District including Wanniarachchi and the State Minister of Environment Janaka Wakkumbura, and MPs Vasudewa Nanayakkara and W.D.J. Seneviratne proved futile.