A programme to rehabilitate 296 minor irrigation tanks across Sri Lanka has commenced with financial assistance from the World Bank, with more than Rs. 5.8 billion allocated for the initiative.

The programme is being implemented under the Integrated Rural-Urban Development and Climate Resilience Project (IRDCRP) and is scheduled to continue until 2029.

Under the regular rehabilitation component, work has commenced on six minor irrigation tanks managed by the Department of Agrarian Development in the Polonnaruwa, Hambantota and Jaffna districts. An allocation of Rs. 256,168,900.88 has been made for these projects.

Meanwhile, rehabilitation work has also begun on 290 minor irrigation tanks in 18 districts damaged by Cyclone Ditwah under the Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC). A total of Rs. 5,578,334,825.34 has been allocated for these projects.

The rehabilitation programme covers 18 districts, including 97 tanks in Badulla, 29 in Ratnapura, 24 in Mannar, 19 in Kurunegala, and 15 each in Kandy and Vavuniya.

The rehabilitation is expected to improve the water-holding capacity of the tanks and the efficiency of irrigation water distribution, ensuring a more reliable water supply for farmers to carry out cultivation activities on time.

The programme also aims to strengthen the resilience of irrigation systems against climate-related risks, including heavy rainfall, floods and droughts, enabling agricultural activities to continue despite such challenges.

The projects are being implemented with the technical and administrative support of officials from the Department of Agrarian Development, together with the cooperation of farmer organisations.

The Department said the programme is expected not only to restore damaged irrigation infrastructure but also to deliver long-term benefits by creating a more resilient and sustainable agricultural environment and safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods in the face of climate change.