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An overview of Present Dam Safety Management in Sri Lanka. Badra Kamaladasa Sri Lanka National Committee of Large Dams. How many Dams in Sri Lanka?. Medium and Large -320 Earth dams-307 Concrete gravity -08 Concrete double arch -01 rockfill -04 Small 12,000.
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An overview of Present Dam Safety Management in Sri Lanka Badra Kamaladasa Sri Lanka National Committee of Large Dams
How many Dams in Sri Lanka? • Medium and Large -320 Earth dams-307 Concrete gravity -08 Concrete double arch -01 rockfill -04 • Small 12,000
Different categorizations • Ancient dams – Original construction centuries ago, restored in 1850 onwards • Recent dams – located in new places where no ancient dams existed • Modern dams - dams with new technology Large Dams according to ICOLD classifications- 76
Who are the guardians? • Irrigation Department • Mahaweli authority • Agrarian Development Department • Provincial Councils • Ceylon Electricity Board • National Water Supply & Drainage Board • Farmer Organisations NO PRIVATE OWNERS
Technical capabilities • Farmer Organisations • – No technical background • Agrarian Development Department • – Dam Safety function is not identified • National Water Supply and Drainage Board • – Dam Safety function not identified, scope available to develop skill • Provincial Council • – Dam Safety function identified in certain PCC, • Ceylon Electricity Board • -Dam Safety function identified, scope available to develop skill • Mahaweli Authority • -Trained and Skilled group leaving / limited opportunities for newcomers • Irrigation Department • -Trained and Skilled group leaving / In a better position that other organisations/ limited opportunities for newcomers
Shortcomings • Technical competency • Financial limitations • Absence of island wide national standards for designs Constructions • Absence of island wide mechanism and standards for safety management • Ambiguity over ownership and authority • Priority always for water storage
Concluding Remark Absence of an independent regulatory authority • Regulation done by the implementation agency itself • Media becoming the pseudo regulating authority