President inaugurates ‘Waari Saubhagya’ National Irrigation Programme

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday inaugurated the ‘Waari Saubhagya’ National Irrigation Programme at the Mahamgaswewa in Palugaswewa, Anuradhapura.

The government aims to renovate 5000 small irrigation systems in the country through this programme, the Ministry of Irrigation said on Friday (05). 1000 regional irrigation systems are to be renovated in 2021.

The ‘Waari Saubhagya’ National Programme will be jointly carried out by the Ministry of Irrigation, Agrarian Services Department, Tri-Forces and Civil Security Department.

At the inauguration event, the construction of an irrigation tunnel to develop the Maha Ela, in the North-Central province began. The length of the tunnel spans 28 kilometres and will becomes the country’s longest. The Maha Ela will carry water from the Moragahakanda reservoir to Mahakandarawa, the Ministry of Irrigation said.

The ‘Waari Saubhagya’ National Programme will be carried out as a four-year accelerated development project and will provide water to several large irrigation systems. The project will benefit the Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Matale and Polonnaruwa districts.

The development of the Wayamba Maha Ela Canal is scheduled to begin on 16th February, under the patronage of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.