Lower Malwathu Oya Reservoir Project discussed
Discussion chaired by President, with participation of all relevant stakeholders, to resolve issues hindering the acceleration of Lower Malwathu Oya Reservoir Project
• Developing the irrigation system can help rural communities build stronger economies — President
The Lower Malwathu Oya Reservoir Project is a major expectation of the people of Rajarata
• The commitment demonstrated by the Government led by the President toward this endeavor is commendable — Chief Incumbent of the historic Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya Ven. Thanthirimale Chandrarathana Thero
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that developing the irrigation system can help rural communities build stronger economic foundations and contribute directly to the national economy.
The President made these remarks while participating in a discussion held recently at the Presidential Secretariat with the participation of all relevant stakeholders to review the progress of the Lower Malwathu Oya Multi-Purpose Development Project, another significant reservoir project set to become part of the Rajarata major irrigation system and to address the issues hindering its further progress.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake recently conducted an inspection visit to the project site, where the issues raised were further discussed during the meeting, and several constructive solutions were identified to address them.
The Lower Malwathu Oya Multi-Purpose Development Project, which commenced 10 years ago but was subsequently stalled due to a lack of funding, has been recommenced with an allocation of Rs. 5 billion in the 2026 Budget.
The project is expected to address water shortages, a key factor affecting rural development and agricultural production in the lower Malwathu Oya basin, establish a new development zone in the Thanthirimale area, increase the intensity of cultivation by enabling the 40,000 acres of paddy land under the Yodha Wewa and Akithamuruppu Wewa irrigation schemes in the Mannar District to be cultivated during both the Yala and Maha seasons, provide drinking water, generate hydroelectricity, control flooding in the area, open up opportunities for tourism, promote the fisheries industry and support the management of human-elephant conflicts. The Government aims to fully complete the Lower Malwathu Oya Reservoir Project and make it available for the benefit of the people by 2029–2030. Upon completion, it will become the largest reservoir in the North Central Province.
Particular attention was also given to land acquisition and resettlement activities associated with the implementation of the reservoir project.
The President instructed that resettlement be carried out with the necessary infrastructure developed to ensure that displaced communities are provided with a better standard of living than they previously enjoyed.
Accordingly, discussions were held on plans to introduce modern agricultural projects for these communities and establish stable markets for their produce through purchase agreements with private-sector supermarket chains and export companies.
The meeting also discussed a proposal made by Ven. Thanthirimale Chandrarathana Nayaka Thero, Chief Incumbent of the historic Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya and Deputy Chief Sanghanayake of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, to construct and maintain an elephant fence through a joint effort by the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Civil Security Department and the Sri Lanka Army. The proposal also included establishing natural barriers, such as palmyrah fences, as an effective long-term biological solution.
The rehabilitation of small- and medium-scale irrigation tanks was also discussed, including the resumption of the “Kuda Wilachchiya Tank Project”, which had been suspended due to the previous economic crisis.
Ven. Thanthirimale Chandrarathana Nayaka Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya, noted that the Lower Malwathu Oya Reservoir Project is a major expectation of the people of Rajarata.
He expressed appreciation for the Government’s commitment, led by the President, to the project. He also welcomed the decisions reached at the meeting, stating that they had strengthened public confidence in the project’s successful implementation.
Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Environment K.R. Uduwawala, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation D.P. Wickramasinghe and Anuradhapura District Secretary Ranjith Wimalasuriya were also present. Divisional Secretaries, heads and representatives of relevant institutions, including the Department of Irrigation and the Department of Wildlife Conservation, senior officers of the security forces and project officials, including Chief Project Director Anura Nelugolla, also participated in the meeting.