– President chairs discussion to fast-track Lower Malwathu Oya Reservoir Project

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed relevant authorities to address obstacles hindering the progress of the Lower Malwathu Oya Multi-Purpose Development Project, which is expected to become a major component of the Rajarata irrigation system.

The President made the remarks during a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat on September 3 with representatives of relevant institutions to review the project’s progress and identify solutions to issues delaying its implementation.The President said strengthening the irrigation system would help rural communities build stronger economic foundations while enabling them to contribute directly to the national economy.The project, which commenced around 10 years ago but was subsequently stalled due to a lack of funds, has been recommenced with an allocation of Rs. 5 billion in the 2026 Budget.The Government expects to fully complete the project and make it available to the public by 2029–2030. Once completed, it is expected to become the largest reservoir in the North Central Province.The project is expected to address water shortages in the lower Malwathu Oya basin and support agricultural production and rural development. It will also facilitate the cultivation of around 40,000 acres of paddy land under the Yodha Wewa and Akithamuruppu Wewa irrigation schemes in the Mannar District during both the Yala and Maha seasons.In addition, the project is expected to provide drinking water, generate hydroelectricity, control flooding, create tourism opportunities, promote the fisheries industry and support measures to manage human-elephant conflicts.

The President also stressed that resettlement of communities affected by land acquisition should be carried out with adequate infrastructure, ensuring that displaced families receive living conditions better than those they previously enjoyed.Plans to introduce modern agricultural projects for resettled communities and establish stable markets for their produce through agreements with supermarket chains and export companies were also discussed.A proposal by Ven. Thanthirimale Chandrarathana Nayaka Thera, Chief Incumbent of the historic Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya, to establish and maintain an elephant fence through a joint effort involving the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Civil Security Department and Sri Lanka Army was also considered.The proposal also included the use of natural barriers such as palmyrah fences as a long-term solution to human-elephant conflicts.

The rehabilitation of small- and medium-scale irrigation tanks was also discussed, including the resumption of the Kuda Wilachchiya Tank Project, which had been suspended during the previous economic crisis.Ven. Thanthirimale Chandrarathana Nayaka Thera said the Lower Malwathu Oya Reservoir Project was a major expectation of the people of Rajarata and commended the Government’s commitment to its implementation. He said the decisions reached at the meeting had strengthened public confidence in the successful completion of the project. Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe and senior officials from several ministries and government institutions, including the Irrigation Department and Department of Wildlife Conservation, also participated in the discussion. Project officials, security forces personnel, Divisional Secretaries and other relevant stakeholders were present.