The Mahaweli Development project is a unique River basin development project and the largest multi-purpose development programme ever undertaken in Sri Lanka.
Although it's major development components have been completed, the success of this entire programme depends on the continued flow of adequate quantity and quality of water into the reservoirs and sustainable management of natural resources on the whole Mahaweli Basin.

With these concerns in mind, Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka (MASL) established the Upper Mahaweli Environment and Forest Conservation Division (EFCD).

Land Use Planning

Land use planning is a decision support activity, which provides information and guidelines on sustainable land resources management. This section works in the field of land use mapping, provision of technical guidance on land resource assessment, environmental management activities, land use planning and watershed management.

Sedimentation Monitoring Programme

The main objective of the section is to implement monitoring programs to obtain information on river sediment transport and to quantify the effects on sub watersheds of Upper Mahaweli watershed. Apart from that our section takes care of maintenance and construction activities of the division.

Hydrological performance monitoring is important to identify the situation of the watershed. Sediment and water yields are two indicators monitored under this programme. As the resources are scarce, the division decided to move along the selected sub-watersheds and sediment monitoring is done only for a short period of time. This will enable us to calibrate it with the water flow. Subsequently, water flow monitoring is done automatically. During the calibration period, all possible flow patterns (peaks and low flows) are covered. We are aware of the fact that this kind of monitoring will help only to detect non-point, and continuous sources of sediments. This helps us to identify our long-term conservation programme. In any case, point sources are incidental and natural recovery is very speedy. Damage control from such sources needs more of regulatory measures rather than technological.

Natural Resource Conservation

§ This section is responsible for Planning & implementation of natural resources conservation programmes related to watershed management in the Upper Mahaweli Catchment Area (UMCA)

§ The implementation of natural resources management activities are carried out through Local government institutions and other line agencies in the UMCA

Environmental Education

The principle mode of operation for the Environment education is based on participation. Following approaches and strategies are being used various means of mass media/ communication; newsletters, radio programmes, exhibitions, video films, slide shows, competitions, leaflets, posters, booklets, excursions, training programmes, projects, seminars, workshops, meeting etc. Communication support materials are developed and collated by the section itself.

The target groups range from School children to line agency staff, the local political leaders, under graduate youths, farmers, extension workers, NGO staff etc.

Training Centres

EFCD has three training centers: – Polgolla, Doragala and Pallekelle. These training centres are equipped with audio-visual facilities and other training equipments. Pallekelle center has residential facilities for 20 participants. Demonstrations are established on soil and water conservation, medicinal plants, watershed management and the biodiversity aspects.

Mahaweli Pavithra Ganga (CLEAN RIVER) Prpgramme

The Mahaweli-Ganga has a catchment of 10,400 kms, which is 1/6th of total land area of Sri Lanka. The Mahaweli-Ganga has been dammed at 5 places and constructed large water reservoirs for irrigation & hydropower generation. The Polgolla reservoir/ barrage is the major diversion point for entire Mahaweli development network.Polgolla reservoir is being polluted due to the garbage / industrial waste dumping in to the Mahaweli river and major tributaries. It is also recorded that, quality of the water is being drastically deteriorated.

There is also a increasing trend to pollute Kandy lake. Deforestation of the sensitive catchment areas, vegetation burning, soil erosion, encroachment, improper and illegal house construction, illegal sand mining and improper garbage/sewage disposal are the major reasons for the above situation.

This situation negatively affect the beauty of the world heritage Kandy city and the objective of the Mahaweli development programme. The “Mahaweli Clean River (Pavithra Ganga) programme” is an initial intervention of future Mahaweli River Basin Management Agency.

“Mahaweli Pavithra Ganga Programme” is a concept in which the theme is to keep Mahaweli River & reservoirs clean in a sustainable manner. This programme is implemented based on local government institutional areas, which are, located either sides of the Mahaweli river from Hatton to Victoria dam in the Upper Mahaweli Catchment. The extent of Upper Mahaweli Catchment is 3118 km2. The Upper Mahaweli is the upper part of the Mahaweli River above the Rantembe dam. This Upper Mahaweli catchment area can be considered as the heart of the country.

Therefore, with the concerns in mind environmental conservation in the Upper Mahaweli Catchment is utmost important to maintain quality and quantity of Mahaweli water.