Rambaken Oya water for Maha cultivation 2013

Mahaweli systems corr

Irrigation and Water Resources Development Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said the ministry will release water from the Rambaken Oya reservoir being built by the Irrigation Department to crop fields in the areas around Padiyathalava and Mahaoya, between Ampara and Mahiyanganaya during the next maha cultivation period beginning August 2013. The minister visited the Rambaken-oya reservoir construction site, off Mahaoya recently.

The Rambaken-oya has a capacity of 45,000 cubic acres.

It will feed crop fields in the Padiyathalawa and Mahaoya divisional secretariat and Irrigation Department sources said. Minister Silva said about 300 families can be settled in the Rambakan Oya Mahaweli zone at the beginning of next year.

He said the Rambaken-oya reservoir embankment building process is nearing completion. The other projects in the Rambaken-oya Mahaweli zone are also being carried out.

The first batch of farmers to be settled will cultivate around 2,200 acres of paddy during the next maha season. Senior Minister for Food and Nutrition P. Dayaratna, Eastern Province Governor Mohan Wijewickrama, Eastern Provincial Education, Cultural Affairs and Transport Minister Wimalaweera Dissanayaka and Digamadulla District Member of Parliament Shriyani Wijewickrama accompanied the minister.