Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2011-06-29

Dam Safety and Water Resources Planning Project - Proposal to extend the Project Implementation Period

- this project which is implemented with financial assistance of the World Bank, is aimed at establishing long-term sustainable arrangements for operation and maintenance of the large Dams and improving water resources planning and is scheduled to be completed in 2013. The main components of the project are as follows:

* improvement of dam safety and operational efficiency - under this component 32 major dams will be rehabilitated and basic safety facilities will be provided to another 48 major dams.
* modernization and improvement of Hydro-Meteorological Information System.
* multi-sectoral water resources planning.

The proposal made by Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, to extend the project period by two more years, in consultation with the World Bank, was approved by the Cabinet.