Water management capacity of the Vel Vidane in two centrally managed irrigation systems in Sri Lanka

This study examined variability in water management capacities of local irrigators in fifteen sample distributary communities of two centrally managed irrigation systems in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Water management capacity at the distributary community level was defined as the ability of the farming community to elect an effective Vel Vidane who could develop joint agreements among farmers with the support of local influentials to perform key water management activities such as water distribution and supervision, maintenance activities, and conflict management.;This study demonstrated the necessity of the development of effective farmer organizations to incorporate and strengthen the Vel Vidane role, the importance of understanding local water management procedures and local leadership roles, and the recognition of the potential of incorporation of effective local water management practices and roles in the design of appropriate organizational structure acceptable to water users. The study also found that smaller communities with more equal power distribution developed more effective water management procedures, a fact which supports Mancur Olson's logic of collective action.;The research was guided by a major hypothesis: As power is more diffused and the smaller the distributary community, the lower the distributary water management problems and the higher the degree of local water management capacity: This hypothesis was supported in spite of different distributary community characteristics in relation to tenancy, density, the amount of water delivered to the community, and the negative role of some local influentials. However, the role of the Vel Vidane is highly constrained by the bureaucratic control of water management at the local level and the presence of unfavorable conditions in communities such as unequal power distribution and lower group solidarity.