Shortage of Water Resources in Jaffna Peninsula of Sri Lanka

With elaborate reviews and on-site investigations, this paper systematically depicts the water resource status of Jaffna Peninsula from perspectives of both lagoon water and groundwater. The main problems that local government faced in water resources development and utilization process are heterogeneity of rainfall time and lack of water resource management measures, which lead to difficulties in rainwater harvesting/utilization, seawater intrusion and rising problems of water pollution. A water crisis has derived from above issues and severely restrains the local development. Therefore, an integrated water resources management plan is extremely urgent for Jaffna Peninsula.