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The book "Irrigation and Agriculture in Sri Lanka" was launched at the residence of the High Commissioner of Australia recently. Written and edited by Ric Shandran eminent economist in the field of agriculture and irrigation in Asia, with contributions from other specialists in the field, the book is a comprehensive study in the development of irrigation and agriculture in post-independent Sri Lanka. It explores in depth the agricultural policies of successive Governments from 1950 to 1990s, and critically examines the impact investment in irrigation schemes had on the agricultural sector.

By delineating the history that influenced consecutive policy makers to pursue self-sufficiency in food mainly - rice, the book further enhances the reader's understanding of the subject matter.

"Irrigation and Agriculture in Sri Lanka" brings together a great deal of useful information regarding irrigated agriculture and the wide array of irrigation projects in Sri Lanka. Some important details contained in the book are not found elsewhere in the literature. Examples discussions on the Walagambahu Village Tank Settlement model, Mutukandiya Model, Welioya model, Galoya model, and a host of other projects of this type.

The book lays special emphasis on matters relating to irrigation and agriculture soon after the completion of the Mahaweli Head Works, and examines an important and relevant question whether programs - such as the Accelerated Mahaweli Development Project should continue to form the basis of national irrigation policy. The book analyses this pertinent issue by taking a comprehensive look at the cost of irrigation schemes in the context of agriculture growth and development in the country.

The book's nine chapters, running into nearly 300 pages, analyses in detail the costs and benefits of irrigation, costs and benefits of rice-based agriculture development, and diversification and commercialization of agriculture. The book then explores options for future investment in irrigation, and the possibilities of diversifying the commercial agricultural sector in Sri Lanka.

Supported by comprehensive statistical data and an extensive list of references, and illustrated by a number of rare maps and diagrams, the book is a rich source of information and a guide to the main issues in irrigation and agriculture in Sri Lanka.Dr. Ric Shand - editor and principal author has published extensively on development issues, especially on problems relating to rural poverty and agricultural development, in Asia and the Pacific over the last thirty-five years. These include "Agriculture Development in Asia" (1969), "Technical Change in Asian Agriculture" (1973), and "Off Farm Employment in the Development of Rural Asia" (1986). He was a visiting Professor at the Department of Economics, University of Colombo during 1988-91.

During his tenure in Sri Lanka, Shand also led a consulting team on key policy oriented studies on the agricultural sector for the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Ric Shand is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University, Canberra. He was the former Executive Director of the Australia South Asia Research Centre in the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies at the Australian National University.

He has also been a Visiting Professor/Economist in several institutes including the University of Pertanian, Malaysia and the Indian Planning Commission.

"Irrigation and Agriculture in Sri Lanka" is published by the Institute of Policy Studies, and the foreword is written by Dr. Gamani Corea the Chairman of IPS.

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