The Lower Malwathu Oya Multi-Purpose Development Project in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province is progressing steadily and is expected to be completed by 2029-2030, according to officials at a meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Once finished, the project will feature the largest reservoir in the province, aimed at addressing chronic water shortages that have hindered rural development and agricultural productivity.
The project, which began over a decade ago but was halted due to funding constraints, recently resumed with a government allocation of Rs. 5 billion in the 2026 Budget. It is designed to enhance irrigation infrastructure, enabling the cultivation of approximately 40,000 acres of paddyland in the Mannar District during both the Yala and Maha cropping seasons. This expansion is expected to boost local agriculture and contribute to broader economic growth.
During the meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, various stakeholders reviewed the project’s progress and discussed challenges identified during an on-site inspection by the President. Solutions were proposed to overcome these issues, with a focus on completing the project within the set timeframe.
Beyond irrigation, the development initiative aims to provide multiple benefits, including drinking water supply, flood control, hydroelectric power generation, and tourism promotion. It also seeks to support the fisheries sector and address human-elephant conflicts through environmental management measures. In this regard, a proposal by Ven. Thanthirimale Chandrarathana Nayaka Thero, Chief Incumbent of the historic Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya, was considered. The proposal recommends constructing and maintaining an elephant fence via collaborative efforts of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Civil Security Department, and the Sri Lanka Army.
The government has also prioritized land acquisition and resettlement processes related to the reservoir’s implementation. President Dissanayake instructed officials to ensure displaced communities receive infrastructure and living standards superior to their previous conditions. Plans to introduce modern agricultural projects and establish stable markets for produce through partnerships with private-sector supermarkets and export companies were also discussed.
Additionally, the meeting covered the rehabilitation of small- and medium-scale irrigation tanks, including plans to restart the "Kuda Wilachchiya Tank Project," which had been suspended amid the recent economic crisis. These efforts form part of a broader strategy to enhance water resource management and rural livelihoods in the region.
The government’s commitment to completing the Lower Malwathu Oya Development Project underscores its focus on sustainable development and improving the socioeconomic conditions of rural populations in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province.