Dry zone of Sri Lanka is the main contributor to the rice supply in the island nation. Since this zone is prone to long droughts, a large network of agricultural tanks had been built over 1500 years ago to overcome the adverse impacts of the droughts experienced in the zone. Due to poor maintenance and negligence, there is siltation in some of these tanks and as a result of this the water storage of the tanks is not at the optimum level. This study was focused mainly on ten such tanks situated in the Angunakolapelessa Divisional Secretariat Division in the Hambantota District. These tanks require dredging to be at their optimum capacities. It has therefore become necessary to investigate the possible uses of dredged material , i.e., for erosion mitigation, since ad-hoc dumping of erodible dredged materials would in turn adversely affect the capacities of the other tanks located downstream of the cascade. Thirty soil samples were collected from a depth of 300 mm and laboratory tests were conducted on them to study their soil properties. Particle size distribution and Atterberg Test results show that the samples contain mostly clay-silt sediments and according to USCS and USDA classifications, most of them can be classified as silty loam. Standard Proctor Compaction Tests conducted on the samples indicate that the soils have a low maximum dry density and a high optimum moisture content which indicate that the soils tested cannot be recommended for use in embankment/road construction. However, these soils could be reused in erosion barriers/berms erected in agricultural fields. Proper management of irrigation tanks avoiding siltation caused by erosion is recommended to ensure food security and sustainable water management.

Bicycle lanes have become an integral part of the highway networks of many countries including Sri Lanka. They are encouraged as a pollution free, economic and healthy mode of transport throughout the world. So it is high time that a proper guideline for the same is introduced taking into account the local conditions of this country. Bicycle lanes are so far introduced to the road projects of Sri Lanka on ad hoc basis without consideration of the proper guidelines such as continuation of bicycle lanes on the road network, intersection treatment, avoidance of abrupt termination etc. Sri Lanka being a developing country with more or less a feudal framework of thinking, there is a social stigma towards the bicycling as a poor man's vehicle. In such a context, how should a design engineer in cooperate this green technology into our local highway projects so the common man can be immensely benefitted and our cities will be left with some fresh air to breath in the coming days of the future? This research was aimed at addressing these issues and finally coming up with a proper guideline to implement bicycle lanes in the future road projects carried out by Road Development Authority.