Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2021-03-01

Construction of Wattegedara Wewa in Matale District, identified under 'Gama Samaga Pilisandara

- It was decided at the programme ‘Gama Samanga Pilisandara’ held at Himbiliyakada in the Divisional Secretariat division of Wilgamuwa in Matale district to open the way for a higher income generation for poor people whose livelihood is Agriculture by taking necessary measures for the supply of water for approximately 1,010 acres of new cultivable lands while making remedies for the prevailing water shortage for land in extent 1,300 acres nourished by Himbiliyakada Wewa. Accordingly, the Department of Irrigation has designed a project to supply water by constructing Wattegedara Wewa and Dodamgolla Wewa across Gemburu Oya and supplying water to both Wattegedara Wewa and Himbiliyakada Wewa through a 1,800 metre long tunnel from the right bank main channel of Kalu Ganga reservoir. The estimated cost for the proposed project will be approximately Rs. 7,155 million while its construction has been planned to be completed within a period of 03 years from 2021 – 2023. The proposals made by the Minister of Irrigation to initiate the construction activities of Watthegedara wewa during the year 2021 with the use of machinery of the Department of Irrigation and labour contribution from the Sri Lanka Army as well as the villagers, and to allocate the provisions required for the project from the medium term budgetary framework 2021-2023, was approved by the Cabinet.