The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $3 million grant to address water shortages in Sri Lanka’s Northwestern and Uva provinces by constructing modern pipe distribution network (PDN) systems. The initiative, part of the Transforming Irrigation Systems for Improved Food Security Project, will provide irrigation to 877 hectares of farmland, supporting 943 farming households and enhancing the country’s agriculture sector. The project is funded through the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR), financed by the Government of Japan via ADB.
The pilot project will construct four PDN systems—two small-scale gravity and one pumped pressure system in the Northwestern Province, and a large-scale gravity system in the Uva Province. These systems are designed to improve water-use efficiency, enable on-demand irrigation, and support both paddy and upland crops under major, medium, minor, and rainfed irrigation conditions. The project will provide technical and institutional lessons to demonstrate the benefits of PDN systems, with plans for wider adoption under the proposed second stage of the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program.
ADB Country Director for Sri Lanka, Takafumi Kadono, highlighted that PDN systems are particularly suitable for water-scarce areas, as they help maximize land use, enhance food security, and improve economic returns for farmers. The high-efficiency systems are expected to reduce water losses from traditional canal-based irrigation and enable the cultivation of high-value crops in upland areas vulnerable to climate change.
The project also contributes to disaster recovery, following Cyclone Ditwah in November 2025, which caused Sri Lanka’s worst floods in two decades, damaging over 160,000 hectares of paddy fields, 96,000 hectares of other crops, and 13,500 hectares of vegetables. By supporting resilient irrigation infrastructure, ADB aims to help communities recover while strengthening long-term agricultural and water management resilience.
Founded in 1966 and owned by 69 members, 50 of which are from the Asia-Pacific region, ADB is a leading multilateral development bank that promotes inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across the region. Through innovative financing and strategic partnerships, the Bank seeks to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard the environment.
