COLOMBO: The government is planning to transfer Mahaweli water to North Western, North Central and Northern Provinces under the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program with the aim of maximizing the productivity of Mahaweli River Basin water resources.
The total investment cost of this program is around Rs 90 billion (US$ 675 million) and the Government of Sri Lanka has entered in to two loan agreements to obtain financial assistance for the above program. ADB has agreed to provide US$ 453 million under the Multi – tranche Financing Facility MFF of ADB through three tranches for the implementation of this program.
The government contribution for the total program is US$ 108 million and the balance US$ 114 million will be arranged through co-financing.
The total investment cost of the first tranche is US$ 190 million and US$ 150 million will be obtained from ADB as loans. The government will invest the balance US$ 40 million.
Three major investment projects; Upper Elahera Canal Project, North Western Province Canal Project, Minipe Left Bank Canal Rehabilitation Project will be implemented under the above investment program.
The construction of new and improved water conveyance and storage infrastructure under this program will increase the productivity of agricultural lands in the above provinces. Twenty five thousand farmer families under Upper Elahera Canal Project, 40,000 farmer families under North Western Province Canal Project and 15,000 farmer families under Minipe Left Bank Canal Rehabilitation Project will be directly benefited through this program. In addition, provision of safe drinking water for people living in those areas will help to prevent the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
This project will be implemented by the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka and Department of Irrigation under the supervision of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment.
