Abstract:
Nilwala River is the major river in the Matara District of southern Sri Lanka, and is 72km in length. Frequent
floods and inundation of urban and peri-urban areas resulting in socioeconomic impacts are major problems that
occur downstream of the basin. In order to address these problems, the Nilwala Flood Protection Scheme was
implemented in 1985, by adding flood protection bunds and introducing deeper drainage networks to paddy
ecosystems, as well as pumping stations to evacuate the tenyear return floods. In spite of this, the flood protection
scheme created new problems for paddy ecosystems due to development of acid sulphate conditions in drying
paddy fields after rapid evacuation of flood water from fields. At present, the Irrigation Department has to bear
nearly 70 million rupees on fuel alone for flood evacuation from rice fields, creating a conflict situation between
the authorities and farmer communities. The pilot project initiated by ADPC, with financial support of Aus AID,
helped to study the problems and address the policy issues while mainstreaming climate information applications
in order to reduce the vulnerabilities associated with paddy farming. Rallying academia, government institutions,
farmer organizations, and local governments under the leadership of the District Secretary to form a management
committee has helped in identifying the most effective policy framework. It has also helped with addressing the
main issues related to acidity problems through technology interventions and adapting them for farming systems.
This research study is conducted in order to study changes occurred in the land use with the Nilwala Project and
related impacts in Matara Distrct. In the collection of data both primary and secondary sources were used. In the
process of colleting primary data a sample of 50 families was selected from areas such as Kiralakele, Nadugala,
Bandaththara, Kadduwa and Akuressa. Methodologies like interviews and questionnaires we e used. In addition
method of case study was also used. In this research study the nature of socio economic, political and cultural
relationships among the community living in the environment close to Nilwala river and factors of changes of
such relationships are analyzed under a social scientific aspect. According to the result of the study there have
been great changes in the use of land within the areas under subject to the study. It is completely changed from
the land use profile which existed prior to the commencement of Nilwala project. Specially different institutions
have taken various measures in order to minimize adverse impacts on natural use of land. But They have not been
International Conference of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka - 2017
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able to restore them. Therefore even in the presence there are some socio economic, environmental and political
issues pertaining to this situation
