Overview

Sri Lanka possesses an extensive network of inland waterways, consisting of rivers, streams, lakes, dams, reservoirs, and canals, that traverse various regions. While primarily serving the purpose of irrigating paddy cultivation and other food crops and supporting hydropower generation, these water bodies are underutilized for passenger and goods transportation.

Several obstacles have rendered the utilization of inland waterbodies for transportation of people and goods around the island less feasible. The mountainous landscape of the country’s inland regions contributes to significant fluctuations in water levels, while the presence of rough seas and prevailing currents have made it difficult to transport between peripheral areas surrounding the island. These factors have not only made navigation challenging but have also raised safety concerns. Moreover, it may not be cost-effective, considering the generally good road and rail networks in place. Additionally, several factors, such as limited infrastructure, inadequate maintenance, low demand, and environmental concerns, have also impeded the development of waterway logistics in the country.

Nonetheless, the government has taken significant steps to enhance waterways transportation in Sri Lanka. In August 2018, a project to maintain an Inland Water Transport service was approved as a Public Private Partnership. Initially, services from Battaramulla to Wellawatta, from Fort to Union Place via Beira Lake, and from Mattakkuliya to Hanwella received Cabinet approval. Furthermore, a pre-feasibility study on inland water transport in the Megapolis urban project has been completed with the support of the Dutch Government.

Sri Lanka’s river network. Source:  https://maps-sri-lanka.com/sri-lanka-river-map

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List and 4.4 Waterways Contact List