Construction work of US $ 966mn Mahaweli Water Security Development programme to be expedited

The Cabinet nod was recently given to expedite the construction work of  the US $ 966 million Mahaweli Water Security Development Programme, which is mainly funded by the Asian Development Bank  (ADB), to be completed within four years.

The programme, which is expected to complete the outstanding water conveyance investments under the Mahaweli Development Programme, aims to maximise the productivity of the Mahaweli river basin water resources by transferring the available water to the northern dry zone areas of Sri Lanka for irrigation, drinking and commercial purposes.

The cost of the programme is mainly funded by ADB, under a  10-year tranche financing facility, while the remaining balance is financed by the government. 

Based on a policy decision taken by the government, the relevant construction work, which was scheduled to be completed in six years, is planned to be completed within four years i.e. by 2025, according to the Government Information Department.

Accordingly, Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa recently sought the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers to amend the relevant contract accordingly and take the necessary steps to expedite the constructions activities of the project to be completed by 2025.

Under this project, the North Central Canal, North Western Canal, Minipe Canal, Meegahakirula and Mahakitula storage reservoir systems are being constructed to meet the acute drinking and irrigation water requirements of the North, North Central, North Western and Central provinces. 

It is also expected to supply the surplus water stored in the Moragahakanda and Kalu Ganga reservoirs to utilise for 73,800 hectares of irrigable lands in the North and North Central provinces for both seasons and for the benefit of 250,000 families.