REVIEW OF SELECTED WATER RESOURCE PROJECTS OF USAID/SRI LANKA

Evaluation covers the period 1/1/79-3/31/81 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with U.S. contractors. In the Mahaweli Ganga Irrigation (MGI) component, all irrigation infrastructure is complete, canal excavation and structures are 97.5% finished, and 20,403 of a planned 22,781 farms have been settled. MGI was 1 year ahead of schedule prior to 9/80, but due to a 32% reduction in the GSL"s local currency budget, implementation has slowed and completion is expected as originally planned. Because work plans for the final 18 months have not yet been prepared for this component, it is recommended that A.I.D. require the Mahaweli Development Board (MDB) to submit summary work plans. Approximately $1.2 million of uncommitted loan funds will not be required for equipment procurement, but since additional funds are needed for spare parts, it is recommended that the MDB submit an itemized list of the required parts and their costs so that A.I.D. can reallocate unneeded equipment funds for parts procurement. Implementation of the Water Management (WM) component has been slow -- it was only 8% rather than 19% complete as of 3/31/81. This rate, if continued, would probably entail a 2-year extension and additional funding. Also, only 27 of the necessary 40 engineers have been hired, 1981 review designs are complete for only 50 of 5,000 acres, and at Ampara, only four of seven pieces of valuable equipment are use and the 32 staff houses are not finished. Recommended actions to improve the WM component are: appointment of a full-time project manager; employment of sufficient professional engineering staff to complete construction designs on schedule and avoid having construction equipment lay idle; preparation of a construction plan which includes a target date to begin actual construction and a scheme for efficient utilization of equipment; and provision of adequate housing at the Ampara project site to be followed by the transfer of consultants there as soon as possible.