Watershed Sub-System Restoration in Rideemaliyadda DSD, Badulla District, Sri Lanka

September 9, 2026 – Global Affairs has determined that the proposed project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

This determination was based on a consideration of the following factors: 

• impacts on rights of Indigenous peoples;  

• Indigenous knowledge; 

• community knowledge; 

• comments received from the public; and  

• technically and economically feasible mitigation measures. 

Mitigation measures taken into account for this determination are:  

• Soils, canal banks, and irrigation embankments will be protected from erosion through slope stabilization, compaction, turfing, and the installation of stone pitching and riprap in vulnerable areas. 

• Water quality and aquatic ecosystems will be protected through the use of sediment traps, silt barriers, and other erosion-control measures to prevent sediment transport into canals, tanks, and watercourses. 

• Natural habitats, riparian vegetation, and biodiversity will be protected by restricting vegetation clearing to the minimum area required, retaining native trees where feasible, and restoring disturbed areas after construction. 

• Degraded watersheds and terrestrial habitats will be restored through reforestation with native species, establishment of buffer zones, and implementation of soil conservation measures.

• Invasive plant species and affected ecosystems will be managed through the removal of invasive vegetation and its replacement with locally appropriate native species.

• Downstream water users and water resources will be protected by maintaining flow continuity through temporary bypass systems, phased construction, and scheduling works during low-flow periods. 

• Watercourses, reservoirs, and water quality will be protected through the proper storage and management of excavated materials, fuels, lubricants, and waste away from aquatic environments. 

• Wildlife and sensitive habitats will be protected by avoiding ecologically sensitive areas, prohibiting hunting or disturbance of wildlife by workers, and implementing corrective measures if protected species are encountered.

Global Affairs is satisfied that that the carrying out of the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. 

Therefore, World Vision may carry out the project, exercise any power, perform any duty or function, or provide financial assistance to enable the project to be carried out in whole or in part.