President Anura Kumara Dissanayake engaged in an inspection tour this morning (29) to review the construction progress of the Lower Malwathu Oya Multipurpose Development Project, which is set to join Rajarata's major irrigation system.

Launched approximately 10 years ago, the project had come to a halt midway due to various reasons and has been restarted under the present government.

An allocation of Rs.5,000 million has been set aside for 2026 alone, and the project, which is fully funded locally, is scheduled for completion in 2029.

Constructed across the Malwathu Oya in the Thantirimale Bogoda area, the reservoir will have a water capacity of 169,400 acre-feet.

Upon completion, it is set to become the largest reservoir in the North Central Province.

The primary objectives of the project include providing solutions to drinking water shortages faced by residents in the Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, and Mannar districts, supplying water for agriculture, managing floods, generating hydroelectricity, and developing tourism alongside the freshwater fishing industry.

Following the completion of the reservoir, 40,000 acres of paddy fields in the Mannar district can be cultivated during both the Yala and Maha seasons.

During the inspection, the President held discussions with project officials to examine the issues and challenges encountered during construction.

The President also focused attention on the welfare of 315 families displaced by the project, instructing officials to provide them with land and housing equipped with electricity and drinking water, as well as guiding them toward smart agriculture using solar-powered lift irrigation systems.

Currently, around 60% of the construction on the 3.4-kilometre main dam has been completed, while structural work on the right bank sluice is finished.

Project officials noted that foundation excavation and granite blasting for the project's power station have also commenced.

Additionally, construction of elephant fences, rehabilitation of small tanks, and the establishment of an archaeological museum are underway as part of the project.

The President emphasised that action must be taken to accelerate construction work to ensure that the benefits of the project reach the public as quickly as possible.