The Government says that renovation work on 296 small irrigation tanks has now commenced with assistance from the World Bank.

The program is planned to be implemented until 2029.

More than Rs. 5.8 billion has so far been allocated for the program which is being implemented under the Integrated Rurban Development and Climate Resilience Project (IRDCRP).

The program is expected to strengthen minor irrigation infrastructure that is important for meeting the irrigation water requirements of farming communities in various parts of the country.Accordingly, work has commenced on six small irrigation tanks under the Department of Agrarian Development in the three districts of Polonnaruwa, Hambantota and Jaffna, as part of these activities under the IRDCRP.An allocation of Rs. 256,168,900.88 has been made for this purpose.

Of particular importance to the IRDCRP is the Emergency Disaster Rehabilitation Program being implemented under the Component 5 of the project, known as the Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC).Accordingly, projects to rehabilitate 290 small irrigation tanks under the Department of Agrarian Development in 18 districts of Sri Lanka that were damaged by Cyclone Ditwah have now commenced under the aforementioned Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC). The total amount allocated for these projects is Rs. 5,578,334,825.34.The rehabilitation work is being carried out across all 18 districts, including 97 tanks in Badulla, 29 in Ratnapura, 24 in Mannar, 19 in Kurunegala, and 15 each in Kandy and Vavuniya. Special attention is being given to restoring irrigation systems that have suffered the greatest damage.