With JICA assistance:

Pulugunawi Tank in Batticaloa upgraded

Economic DevelopmentMinister Basil Rajapaksa declared open the Pulugunawi Irrigation scheme upgraded under the Pro-Poor Economic Advancement and Community Enhancement Project (PEACE) on November 15. On this occasion, the minister participated in a tree planting programme at the Batticaloa, Manmunei, Kankaniyarkulan.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa along with the Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Nobuhito Hobo, Chief Minister of Eastern Province Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, Deputy Minister of Child Development and Women’s Affairs A.L.M.N. Hizbullah and Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Akira Shimura at the opening of the irrigation scheme.

With the improved additional capacity of 4 million cubic meters (mcm) at Pulugunavi and 2 mcm at Kankaniyarkulan tanks, the Pulugunawi Irrigation scheme can irrigate about 1800 hectare of land area and directly benefit over 1,100 farmer families.

The rehabilitation of the Pulugunawi scheme is one of the components of the PEACE Project funded by Japan's Official Development Assistance Loan Scheme through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). JICA provided a loan of JPY 6,010 million for the project which aims at reducing poverty, increasing farmers' productivity and achieving sustainable agricultural development through rehabilitation of irrigation facilities, income generating activities, training, etc. in North Western, North Central, Northern and Eastern Provinces.

The North and East component of the project is executed by the Ministry of Economic Development and the Kurunegala, Anuradhapura component by the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources Management.

The North and East component comprises of rehabilitation and upgrading of nine irrigation schemes in Batticaloa, Ampara, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Mannar and Mullaitivu districts, while the Kurunagala, Anuradhapura component enables rehabilitation of 20 major and medium irrigation schemes and 80 minor irrigation schemes. Both components also include livelihood support activities and training and provision of operation and maintenance equipment for strengthening of farmer organizations. The project is progressing and expected to be completed by end of 2012.