World · Sri Lanka Bureau
Bowatenna Reservoir faces historic drainage for major overhaul
Sri Lanka's Bowatenna Reservoir is set to undergo its first comprehensive maintenance in five decades, requiring a complete drainage of the facility. The major intervention comes as authorities move to address accumulated deterioration in the aging water infrastructure.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
The Bowatenna Reservoir is scheduled to be emptied to enable extensive maintenance work that has not been undertaken since its construction approximately 50 years ago. The project represents a significant intervention in the management of the reservoir, which serves important functions for the region's water supply and irrigation needs.
Official plans for the drainage and maintenance operation are currently being finalised by relevant authorities responsible for the facility's upkeep. The scale of the undertaking underscores the need for systematic infrastructure renewal across Sri Lanka's aging water systems.
The timing and duration of the drainage have not been finalised, though officials are expected to coordinate scheduling to minimise disruptions to water users and surrounding communities dependent on the reservoir. The maintenance work will address structural integrity issues and other deterioration accumulated over the five-decade period since the reservoir became operational.
The project is part of broader efforts to maintain critical water infrastructure on the island, as aging facilities require increasingly urgent attention. Bowatenna's comprehensive overhaul is expected to extend the operational lifespan of the reservoir and improve its reliability for future decades.