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

Implementation of Mundeni Aru River Basin Development Project

- The development project proposed to be implemented in relation to Mundeni Aru River Basin, which is considered a River Basin where the water resources are mostly underutilized, located in the South-East region of Sri lanka, covers the districts of Ampara and Batticaloa in the Eastern Province. Under this project it is expected to increase the extent of the present cultivable area of 3,950 hectares after constructing the two multi-purpose reservoirs with a capacity of 75 million Cubic Meters and 80 million Cubic Meters respectively across Galodai Aru and Mahaoya and to provide fresh irrigation water to 2,800 hectares. Amalgamation of the Rugamwewa - Kithulwewa is also included in the project and flood control, generation of hydro electricity and providing of drinking water to 44 Grama Niladhari Divisions in the Batticaloa district will also be done under this project. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Vijith Vijayamuni Zoysa, the Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, to implement the Mundeni Aru River Basin Project utilizing local and foreign funds, was approved by the Cabinet, as a matter of principle.