Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2018-07-24

Project on Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture (2018 - 2024)

- A large extent of paddy land is cultivated under small lakes, small irrigation canals consisting of anicuts and streams and a considerable number of families through these also make their living. Since these paddy lands are easily vulnerable to climatic changes, 789 small tanks have been identified for rehabilitation under 53 Ellanga Networks spread over 11 Districts of the dry zone have been identified for rehabilitation for resistance to climate changes. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, the Minister of Agriculture, to implement a project with a total investment of US$ 140 million within the period of 2018 - 2024 also with the assistance of the World Bank Funds, with the objective of enhancing the productivity of the cultivable lands under the above tanks, was approved by the Cabinet.