Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2020-06-10

Handing over of Matara 'Nilwala Eliya' Development Project - 2018-2020 to the Ministry of Mahaweli, Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development

- The mangrove swamp named 'Kirala Kele' spread within a land extent of 1,800 hectares planned to be developed under the 'Nilwala Eliya' development project which was inaugurated in the district of Matara in the year 2018 and is presently being implemented by the District Secretary of Matara under the purview of the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Government and Local Authorities. The proposed project area consists mainly of marshy lands, agricultural channels and mangrove swamps. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to further implement the project after handing over the said project to the Ministry of Mahaweli, Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development since close supervision of the Department of Irrigation is required when developing such an area.