Sri Lanka secures OPEC funding for second phase of Mahaweli water security program

The government has obtained funding from the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) to advance the second phase of the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program (MWSIP), a strategic initiative designed to address long-term development challenges in Sri Lanka's dry zone.

The program's second phase focuses on multiple objectives aligned with national priorities, including enhanced food security in arid and semi-arid regions, improved water resource management systems, and increased adaptive capacity to climate variability. Poverty alleviation in vulnerable communities dependent on water resources remains a core component of the initiative.

The Mahaweli Development Authority has outlined a comprehensive implementation framework for the phase, which will build on progress from earlier stages of the program. The initiative represents a collaborative effort between Sri Lankan authorities and international development partners to address water scarcity challenges that affect agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods across significant portions of the island.

OFID's contribution underscores international recognition of Sri Lanka's water security challenges and the importance of infrastructure investment in climate adaptation. The program is expected to deliver measurable improvements in irrigation efficiency, water storage capacity, and sustainable agricultural practices in targeted dry zone districts.

Photo: The Mahaweli River seen from the Sri Lanka-Japan Friendship Bridge at Hebarawa, Uva Province, May 2018. Aldshakya via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).