Broad steps to uplift agricultural sector, agri-based economy: President

• Kicks off second stage of Rs. 16 b Wayamba Ela 
• Initiative to include renovation of 2,400 rural tanks connected with ‘Ellanga Gammana’

President Maithri-pala Sirisena on Friday (24 August) said that at present there were many projects being implemented with the aim of changing the fate of the farming community by bringing them prosperity.   

He made these remarks while participating in the commencement of the Second Stage of the Wayamba Ela to be built at a cost of Rs. 16 billion in Polpithigama.

The inauguration ceremony of the renovation of 2,400 rural tanks connected with ‘Ellanga Gammana’ or the Cascaded Tank-Village system in the Dry Zone was also held under the patronage of the President in the premises of the Kubukulawa Tank, Polpithigama.

Later, the President, addressing the farming community at the Polpithigama Public Ground, said that he had a good understanding of the issues faced by farmers in this country.  

“Today, through a speedy procedure, solutions are provided for the long-lasting water issue of the farmers in the country,” the President said, adding the Paddy Marketing Board was playing a vital role in raising the price of paddy.

Expressing his views further, the President pointed out the adverse effects that have to be experienced by us as a result of environmental damage in the country during the past few years. According to recent reports, Sri Lanka has reached the fourth place among the world’s worst affected countries in the world in the situation of weather and climate changes, the President said.  He added that 50 years ago Sri Lanka secured 97th place in those reports and due to the enormous environmental destruction caused by various racketeers at present the country faces such a situation. The President emphasised that all those who contribute to the destruction of the environment are responsible for the tragic fate of land becoming deserts faced by our future generation. 

The project is scheduled to channel 105,000 feet acres of water of the Mahaweli River to the northern area of the Kurunegala District annually. Thus water will be provided to easily make cultivations within the Polpithigama, Ahatuwewa, Mahawa and Ambanpola Divisional Secretariats in both the Yala and Maha seasons where the need for drinking water for people living in those areas also are answered.

12,500 hectares of lands will be cultivated under the Wayamba Palath Ela project where irrigational water for 13,000 farmer families is to be provided. 

In addition, when considering the drinking water planning facilities provided under this project the number of families benefited through this are 40,000 in amount. Thus, the water of the Mahaweli River will be channelled to 315 of small rivers and the eight main rivers belonging to Mee Oya, Hakwatuna Oya and Kala Oya drones. The main cannel built for that is 9 km in length.

The project, which became a reality due to the strong determination of President Sirisena, will be provided monetary aid by the Asian Development Bank and the Sri Lankan Government. The first stage of this project is to be completed in 2019 and the second stage is to be completed in 2024.

The Ellanga system project, which reconstructs 2,400 reservoirs is a project initiated to reconstruct the reservoirs that are not activated in dry areas and to channel irrigational water for those people. The Ellanga reservoir system, which connects one village to another, is an irrigational technical system in Sri Lanka which is centred on the village and is also identified as an important heritage of agriculture by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Three hundred reservoirs will be reconstructed in Kurunegala District only where the opening of the program was noted by the reconstruction of the Kumubuwewa, Polopitihgama reservoir by the President as well as the farmer community.

After that, the commencement on work of the second stage of the Wayamba Ela was initiated by the President after unveiling the commemoration plaque. The Wayambe Ela Development office was also opened by the President.

Nine water purification systems which were built to provide clean water to the people where the kidney disease is prevailing were presented to the public by the President through the long distance communication system.

Ministers Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, S.B. Nawinne, Duminda Dissanayake, Mahinda Amaraweera, Dayasiri Jayasekara, public representatives of the North Western Province, Secretary to the President Udaya R. Seneviratne, Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry Secretary Anura Dissanayake, the engineers in charge of the project, other officials and the Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara and the heads of the security forces were present in this event.