Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2018-07-31

Implementation of the “Diyawara Neyo” mobile service and accelerated irrigation maintenance programme

- The Government has focused its attention to provide the required irrigation water adequately for the agricultural activities of the farmers affected due to the drought that prevailed over 03 years in certain areas of the Island and for the success of the Maha Season 2018/2019. Accordingly, a proposal has been made to implement the “Diyawara Neyo” mobile service programme with a view to expanding irrigation facilities by resolving expeditiously the long term issues existing in the irrigation system and rehabilitating the dilapidated canals. This programme is proposed to be implemented with the active contribution of the farmers' community. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Duminda Dissanayake, the Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources & Disaster Management, to conduct mobile services within the Regional Irrigation Engineer Divisions with the participation of the farmer community and the political authority and to implement the accelerated irrigation maintenance programmes to resolve the issues pertaining to the irrigation networks, was approved by the Cabinet.