Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2017-02-14

Project for the Enhancement of Efficiency and Productivity of the Irrigation System

- Increasing the irrigation schemes of the country is an essential factor in the achievement of the country's food security, the upliftment of the rural economy and secure the livelihood of the rural community. As such, under the proposed 'Productivity Enhancement and Irrigation System Efficiency Improvement Project' it is contemplated to renovate 80 major and medium scale irrigation schemes completely, which have not been subject to renovation for the period within the last 25 to 35 years. With the expansion of the land and improvement of the water consumption efficiency and strengthening of the farmer community, the productivity of the farming lands will be enhanced resulting in the improvement of income of around 98,000 farmer families. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Vijith Vijayamuni Zoysa, the Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, to implement the project at a cost of Rs.18,500 Million within the period of 2017 - 2021, was approved by the Cabinet.