President Hails Ancient Cascade Tank System as Sri Lanka’s Timeless Model of Sustainability

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stressed on the enduring importance of Sri Lanka’s ancient cascade tank system, describing it as the true foundation of sustainable development and a vital lifeline that continues to serve the nation’s agricultural, economic, and cultural needs today.

Speaking on the country’s development heritage, the President said Sri Lanka’s technological advancement, economy, and daily life have long been rooted in agriculture. He noted that a substantial part of the nation’s culture is also closely tied to agricultural activity, reflecting a civilisation that evolved around food production and water management.

The President stressed that land alone holds little value without reliable water for cultivation, pointing out that Sri Lanka became a civilisation of reservoirs because of the advanced irrigation systems created by ancient ancestors and great kings. Villages themselves, he noted, were established as a direct result of this irrigation-based civilisation.

“Our forefathers and rulers constructed nearly 32,000 reservoirs,” the President said, highlighting the scale and vision of these ancient water management efforts. However, he warned that much of this legacy has been lost over time. According to current data, only about 14,000 tanks remain, making their protection and preservation a national responsibility.

President Dissanayake emphasised that Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage does not view a tank as a simple water body. Instead, it was designed as part of a cascade tank system, an interconnected structure carefully planned to support agriculture and communities over the long term. This system, he said, embodies sustainable development principles that are often discussed today in the context of large-scale modern projects.

“For thousands of years, this tank system has fed generation after generation,” the President noted, adding that these reservoirs have continuously supplied the water necessary for agriculture for millennia. He said that if the world seeks an example of genuine sustainability, Sri Lanka’s traditional tank system stands as a proven model.

Despite its value, the President warned that the ancient network of small and medium-sized tanks, which plays a critical role in sustainable development, is now being endangered by current practices. In response, he said the government has taken a firm and sustainable decision to reorganise the small and medium-scale tank system across the country.

While acknowledging that objections may arise, President Dissanayake said the process must be carried forward with determination, stressing the need to protect this remarkable system for the future. “Our present responsibility,” he said, “is to safeguard these tanks for future generations.”