Evaluation review of the water management project : USAID/Sri Lanka

Special evaluation covers the period 8/79-7/82 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with GSL officials and project participants. While the project has had some successes it has largely failed to meet its implementation schedule. A master plan has been developed for the Gal Oya irrigation system which fits the requirements specified in the consultant's work plan, although it lacks the comprehensiveness needed for the task at hand. Rehabilitation design and construction plans have been prepared but are believed overly optimistic and inappropriate and this component has fallen far behind schedule. Project training programs have failed to meet implementation deadlines in both major components, facility upgrading and curriculum development, and the training of farm leaders and village-level workers has been delayed. Implementation delays have largely resulted from a lack of adequate personnel in the GSL Irrigation Department and racial problems which beset the island in the recent past. Other contributing factors have been the lack of communication and coordination between major participants and a lack of GSL funds. By contrast, the overseas training of Institutional Organizers (IO's) and personnel has proceeded smoothly. The IO program has been largely accepted by cultivators and many farmers have joined the turn-out groups formed with IO assistance. Another component, research and data collection/analysis, has been successfully carried out by the Agrarian Research and Training Institute (ARTI) and Cornell University. Progress has been made in putting the contractor on-board and commodities have been received on schedule. Recommendations include a 2-year project extension to 4/31/86.