Upgraded Pulugunawi Tank in Batticaloa with JICA assistance opens

The Pulugunawi Irrigation Scheme upgraded under the Pro-Poor Economic Advancement and Community Enhancement Project (PEACE) will be ceremonially declared open on 15th November 2011 by the Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapakse with the participation of Nobuhito Hobo – the Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka.

Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, Chief Minister of Eastern Province, Alhaj M. L. A. Hizbullah, M.P., Deputy Minister of Child Development and Women’s Affairs, Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan., M.P, Deputy Minister of Resettlement and Akira Shimura, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will also grace the occasion.

With the improved additional capacity of four million cubic meters (mcm) at Pulugunavi and two mcm at Kankaniyarkulan tanks, the Pulugunawi Irrigation Scheme can irrigate about 1800 hectares of land area and directly benefit over 1100 farmer families.

The rehabilitation of the Pulugunawi scheme is one of the components of the PEACE Project funded by Japan’s Official Development Assistance Loan Scheme through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

JICA provided a loan of JPY 6,010 million for the Project which aims at reducing poverty, increasing farmers’ productivity and achieving sustainable agricultural development through rehabilitation of irrigation facilities, income generating activities, training etc. in North Western, North Central, Northern and Eastern Provinces. The North and East component of the Project is executed by the Ministry of Economic Development, and the Kurunagala Anuradhapura component by the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources Management.

The North and East component comprises of rehabilitation and upgrade of nine irrigation schemes in Batticaloa, Ampara, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Mannar and Mullaitivu Districts while the Kurunagala Anuradhapura component enables rehabilitation of 20 major and medium irrigation schemes and 80 minor irrigation schemes. Both components also include livelihood support activities, and training and provision of Operation and Maintenance equipment for strengthening of farmer organisations. The Project is progressing and expected to be completed by end of 2012.

“We hope the project will accelerate recovery of agricultural communities in the lagging regions, especially in the conflict-affected North and East areas,” says Akira Shimura, Chief Representative of JICA – Sri Lanka Office.