Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2016-06-07

Provide relief for the people who are affected by Moragahakanda - Kaluganga Development Project

- Moragahakanda - Kaluganga Development Project which was commenced in the year 2007 as a Mahaweli Development project, with the objective of providing a solution for the shortage of water which affects the agricultural activities in the North Central Province and supplying drinking water for the people living in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee and Matale districts is the largest multipurpose River Valley Development Project being implemented in the Island. Around 65% of its construction activities have already been completed and 2,512 families affected in the Naula and Laggala - Pallegama Divisional Secretariat Divisions due to the acquisition of lands for the project, have to be removed from the area expeditiously, as it has been planned to fill the reservoir with water prior to the start of rain in Maha Season in 2016. Out of them, 984 families have already been compensated and the proposal made by H.E the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to grant compensation following a reasonable method for the removal of the remaining 2,228 families affected on account of the project, so as to complete the project as designed, within the stipulated time frame, was approved by the Cabinet, as a matter of principle.