One of Sri Lanka's largest irrigation reservoirs, a vast sheet of water southeast of Kilinochchi rimmed with birdlife and rural calm.

Overview

The Iranamadu Tank is a huge man-made reservoir a few kilometres southeast of Kilinochchi town, the lifeline of the district's paddy farming. Its long earthen bund looks out over open water fringed by palmyra palms and scrub, drawing local and migratory birds and offering peaceful sunrise and sunset views. It is a quiet, unhurried spot for a walk along the bund, a picnic or a spot of birdwatching, and a window on the agricultural heart of the Vanni.

History

Construction of the tank began in the 1920s under British administration and it was progressively expanded to become one of the largest reservoirs in the country. Its waters irrigate tens of thousands of acres of farmland across the Kilinochchi plains. During the civil war the tank held strategic importance, and its sluices and command area have been rehabilitated as part of the north's post-war reconstruction.