Introduction
Chitral Somapala (1929–2015) was a distinguished Sri Lankan civil engineer, educator, and public administrator renowned for his pioneering work in water resource management and rural development. Throughout his career, Somapala contributed to the planning and implementation of several major irrigation and hydroelectric projects, and he played a pivotal role in shaping national policies on sustainable development. His academic achievements, coupled with his practical expertise, earned him recognition both within Sri Lanka and internationally.
Early Life and Education
Family Background
Chitral Somapala was born on 12 June 1929 in the rural district of Kegalle, situated in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. He grew up in a modest household; his father, Ananda Somapala, was a schoolteacher, while his mother, Meenakshi, managed the family’s small tea estate. The early environment of the Sri Lankan highlands instilled in Somapala an appreciation for agriculture and an awareness of the challenges faced by rural communities.
Primary and Secondary Education
Somapala attended the local government school in Kegalle, where he distinguished himself in mathematics and physics. In 1945, he gained admission to Royal College, Colombo, one of the island’s premier secondary institutions. His tenure at Royal College was marked by active participation in the student engineering society, and he contributed to several engineering projects designed to improve campus infrastructure.
University Studies
In 1949, Somapala enrolled at the University of Ceylon, Colombo, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. During his undergraduate years, he completed internships with the Ceylon Public Works Department, gaining hands‑on experience in surveying, structural analysis, and construction management. Upon graduation in 1953, he was awarded the university's prestigious Thaddeus S. M. Goonawardena Memorial Award for academic excellence.
Postgraduate Training
Seeking to deepen his technical expertise, Somapala pursued a Master’s degree at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. He was admitted to the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in 1954, where his thesis focused on the hydrology of Sri Lanka’s monsoon systems. He earned his Master of Science in 1956, graduating with first-class honors. Following his master’s, Somapala undertook a Ph.D. at the University of Leeds, concentrating on the design of low‑cost irrigation structures. His doctoral research, completed in 1960, yielded innovative solutions for small‑scale irrigation in arid regions.
Professional Career
Early Roles in the Public Sector
After completing his doctoral studies, Somapala returned to Sri Lanka and joined the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources Development as a senior engineer. In this capacity, he oversaw the construction of several mid‑scale reservoirs, including the Madawala Dam in the Kandy District. His contributions were recognized with the Sri Lanka Government Award for Civil Service Excellence in 1963.
Academic Appointments
In 1965, Somapala was appointed as a lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Peradeniya. His academic work was characterized by a blend of rigorous research and practical field projects. He supervised more than 30 master’s theses and two doctoral dissertations, focusing on irrigation hydraulics, flood control, and rural infrastructure development.
International Consultancy
From 1970 to 1975, Somapala served as a consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Jakarta. During this period, he advised on the planning of the Mahakam River Basin Development Project, which aimed to improve irrigation for rice cultivation and reduce flood risk. His recommendations were adopted in the final project design, and the Mahakam Basin has since become a model for integrated water resource management in Southeast Asia.
Leadership in Government
In 1976, Somapala was appointed Director General of the Ministry of Water Resources Development. He led a comprehensive review of Sri Lanka’s water infrastructure, identifying critical gaps in irrigation coverage and hydroelectric generation. Under his leadership, the ministry approved the construction of the Yala Dam, which substantially increased irrigation supply to the southern plains.
Later Roles and Retirement
Somapala retired from the public sector in 1990 but remained active as a senior adviser to the Ministry of Rural Development and as a visiting professor at the University of Colombo. He also chaired the National Committee on Sustainable Agriculture, guiding the formulation of policies that promoted water‑efficient farming practices. He formally retired from academia in 2005, after a career spanning more than five decades.
Contributions and Achievements
Water Resource Management
Somapala’s most enduring contribution lies in his innovative approach to water resource management, particularly in the design of low‑cost, community‑managed irrigation systems. His research on the use of gravity‑driven flow systems led to the implementation of over 200 irrigation schemes across the island, improving crop yields and reducing water wastage. He also authored the seminal book “Hydrology and Irrigation in Tropical Climates,” which is widely cited in the field.
Hydroelectric Power Development
In the early 1980s, Somapala was instrumental in the planning of the Mahanadi Hydroelectric Project, the first pumped‑storage facility in Sri Lanka. The project provided a reliable source of electricity during monsoon periods and contributed to the island’s energy independence. Somapala’s designs incorporated innovative spillway control mechanisms, which increased the efficiency of the turbines by 12% compared to conventional systems.
Policy Development
As Director General of the Ministry of Water Resources Development, Somapala introduced the “Integrated Water Resources Management Policy” in 1978. The policy emphasized the coordination of water use among agriculture, industry, and domestic sectors, and it established a framework for the equitable distribution of water resources. The policy has been adopted by neighboring countries and remains a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s water management strategy.
Educational Impact
Somapala supervised a generation of civil engineers who went on to hold senior positions in government and academia. His emphasis on practical fieldwork complemented theoretical coursework, ensuring that his students possessed the technical competence required for real‑world challenges. His mentorship fostered a culture of evidence‑based engineering practices in Sri Lanka.
Personal Life
Somapala was married to Anushri de Silva in 1957, and the couple had three children: Nirosha, Rohan, and Priyanka. He was an avid reader of classical literature and a passionate hiker, often exploring the remote mountain ranges of the central highlands during his early career. His philanthropic interests included supporting scholarships for underprivileged students in rural areas, and he established the Somapala Foundation for Rural Education in 1988.
Legacy and Impact
Chitral Somapala’s legacy endures through the infrastructure projects he designed, the policies he helped craft, and the professionals he mentored. The irrigation schemes he pioneered continue to serve thousands of farmers, while his emphasis on sustainable water management remains a guiding principle for contemporary engineers. His work is frequently cited in academic journals, and several university courses reference his methodologies in curricula on water engineering and rural development.
Awards and Honors
- 1963 – Sri Lanka Government Award for Civil Service Excellence
- 1972 – Fellowship of the Institution of Civil Engineers, United Kingdom
- 1981 – National Award for Outstanding Contribution to Water Resources Management
- 1994 – Sir S. W. de Silva Award for Academic Excellence
- 2001 – Honorary Doctorate, University of Moratuwa
- 2010 – Sri Lanka National Award for Service to Education
Selected Works
- Somapala, C. (1970). “Design of Gravity‑Driven Irrigation Channels in Tropical Regions.” Journal of Irrigation Engineering, 12(3), 145–160.
- Somapala, C. (1974). “Flood Control Strategies for Monsoon‑Affected Basins.” Asian Water Resources Review, 8(1), 23–38.
- Somapala, C. (1980). Hydrology and Irrigation in Tropical Climates. Colombo: Institute of Water Studies.
- Somapala, C. (1985). “Pumped‑Storage Hydroelectric Projects: Technical and Environmental Considerations.” International Journal of Renewable Energy, 7(2), 77–94.
- Somapala, C. (1992). “Integrated Water Resources Management: Policy Frameworks and Implementation.” Policy Studies Journal, 20(4), 512–527.
Related Figures
- Prof. D. J. Senanayake – Co‑author of early monsoon hydrology studies.
- Dr. A. K. Perera – Fellow engineer involved in the Yala Dam project.
- Ms. R. L. Samarasinghe – Rural development specialist who collaborated on the Somapala Foundation.
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