The rehabilitation of several irrigation tanks and anicuts at Wilgamuwa in Matale was launched during President Gotabaya Rajapaksa tour of the area thereby keeping one of the pledges, he made to the people.
Rehabilitation work was launched under the patronage of Development of Common Infrastructure Facilities of Settlements and Canals in Mahaweli Zones State Minister Siripala Gamalath.
Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, former Minister and current MP Rohana Dissanayake, MP Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon, Nalaka Kottegoda, Chairman of the Wilgamuwa Pradeshiya Sabah A.G. Tennakoon and the Secretary of the Mahaweli Zones Canals, Settlements Infrastructure Development State Ministry, Engineer W.B. Palugaswewa, the Director-General of the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority, Engineer Sunil S. Perera, Residential Enterprise Manager of the Mahaweli E Zone Gamini Gundawardana also joined in the event.
The farming community in the area had requested President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during his recent tour to Wilgamuwa to rehabilitate the irrigation tank system. Responding to the people, President Rajapaksa said that priority has been given to rehabilitate the irrigation tanks and anicuts under the “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour” National Policy Framework.
The Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka plans to rehabilitate 10 selected irrigation tanks and anicuts in Wilgamuwa. Accordingly, rehabilitation work of Kabarikamada anicut, Pusuba anicut, Thorapitiya tank and Sonuththara tank were launched under the patronage of State Minister Gamlath.
The Mahaweli Authority will spend Rs.150 million on this rehabilitation project while the Civil Defense Force will provide manpower in this regard.
Gamlath said that steps have been taken to complete the rehabilitation of 5000 irrigation tanks throughout the country by 2025. The tank rehabilitation project is implemented under the ‘Irrigation Prosperity’ programme introduced under the guidance of Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa. Minister Gamlath further said that the economy of the farming community would be strengthened.