Politics · Sri Lanka Bureau
Sri Lanka to establish authority for upper catchment area management
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the establishment of a new institutional body tasked with protecting Sri Lanka's central highlands and upper hydro catchment areas. The move aims to develop sustainable long-term solutions to safeguard these critical regions against extreme weather impacts.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Ministers granted policy approval on June 8, 2026, for the creation of the Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority, a dedicated institutional framework to address environmental and hydrological challenges in the country's central hills.
The new authority has been mandated to identify and implement comprehensive, durable solutions to strengthen the resilience of the upper hydro catchment areas and surrounding regions. The initiative responds to growing concerns about the vulnerability of these ecologically and economically vital zones to increasingly severe weather conditions.
The upper hydro catchment areas play a critical role in Sri Lanka's water resources management and hydroelectric power generation. By establishing a dedicated management authority, the government seeks to ensure coordinated, long-term protection and sustainable development of these regions.
The authority is expected to develop integrated strategies for catchment conservation, water resource management, and disaster risk reduction while balancing development needs with environmental protection. Officials anticipate that the institutional framework will enhance the capacity for monitoring, planning, and executing catchment management initiatives across the central highlands.