Record groups of Department of Nationa Archives

Department of Irrigation

Identity area

Type of entity

Corporate body

Authorized form of name

Department of Irrigation

Parallel form(s) of name

Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules

Other form(s) of name

Identifiers for corporate bodies

Description area

Dates of existence

1884-1991

History

The Department of Irrigation was established in 1900. (Irrigation department commenced its separate duties on the 15th May 1900. (Administration Report of Director Irrigation-1900). Earlier it was attached to the Public Works Department. Sessional Papers No. 6 of 1898 and No. 27 of 1906 were pertaining to the Department of Irrigation.
Department has undertaken the following functions: preparation of master plan for development of the different water basins for the optimum utilisation of lands and water resources, project formulation and detail designs of major irrigation hydro power, flood control and reclamation projects, construction of major irrigation and settlement projects for the conservation division and distribution of water for the cultivation of irrigable lands, incorporation of hydropower as far as possible in the construction of settlement projects to enhance the electrical energy resources, construction of drainage, flood protection and salt water exclusion, projects for the protection of cultivable lands and rendering them suitable for cultivation purposes consultancy services in the field of water resources development to government departments statuary boards, corporations public and private institutions and individuals.
Department functioned under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands during the year 1936-1952. Thereafter under the Ministry of Lands and Land Development during 1953-1958. In the years 1959-1960 functioned under the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. during the years 1961-1970 under the Ministry of Irrigation and Power. Under the Ministry of Irrigation Power and Highways in 1978. In the years 1929-1981 under the Ministry of Lands and Land Development. During the year 1981-1988 department functioned under the Ministry of Lands, Land Development and Mahaweli. In 1988-1991 under the Ministry of Land Irrigation and Mahawali Development.

Places

Legal status

Functions, occupations and activities

Mandates/sources of authority

Internal structures/genealogy

General context

Relationships area

Control area

Description identifier

LK-NA/DI

Institution identifier

LK-NA

Rules and/or conventions used

ISAAR

Status

Final

Level of detail

Minimal

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

  • Latin

Sources

Maintenance notes