Three significant reservoirs in Polonnaruwa District are experiencing considerable declines in water availability, with levels falling well below capacity as the dry season progresses.
Water levels across Polonnaruwa District's major reservoirs have fallen significantly, raising concerns about water availability for the ongoing dry season. The Minneriya Reservoir, the district's second-largest water body, has declined to 36% capacity, holding approximately 40,000 acre-feet against its total capacity of 110,000 acre-feet, according to Ada Derana. Water releases from this reservoir for paddy cultivation during the Yala season are expected to conclude within the next two days.
The situation is similarly challenging at the Parakrama Samudra, Polonnaruwa's largest reservoir. Its water level has dropped to 56% capacity, containing roughly 63,000 acre-feet of its 116,000 acre-feet total capacity. Unlike Minneriya, water releases from this reservoir for the Yala season have already been halted entirely.
Conditions are most critical at the Giritale Reservoir, where levels have declined most sharply. The reservoir currently holds less than 8,500 acre-feet of its 21,600 acre-feet capacity, representing a steep drop. Water releases from Giritale for seasonal irrigation have also been discontinued.
These declines across multiple reservoirs underscore the strain on water resources in the district during the dry season, potentially affecting agricultural activities dependent on these water bodies for irrigation.
