The people of Weli Oya in the Mahaweli L Zone has been empowered, Mahaweli Zone Canals and Common Settlement Infrastructure Development State Minister Siripala Gamalath said.
He was participating in an event to rehabilitate the Salalihinigama and the Helamba Irrigation tanks in the Mahaweli L Zone recently. The State Minister inspected the area also to identify the problems of the settlers. Mahaweli Zone Canals and Common Settlement Infrastructure State Ministry Secretary Engineer Wasantha Bandara Palugaswewa said that Rs.577 million has been allocated to develop the Mahaweli L Zone. State Minister Siripala Gamalath met the farmer community led by the Maha Sangha. About 18,671 families live in the Mahaweli L Zone, which was earmarked in 1987.
They have cultivated nearly 1,000 hectares of paddy in the Yala season and 4,200 hectares in the Maha Season. They also grow cereals and other crops. However, lack of irrigated water and drinking water has been identified as two major issues of the people of the area.
Therefore, the Mahaweli Zone Canals and Common Settlement Infrastructure Development State Ministry has initiated a special programme under the directive of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to improve the living condition of the people of Weli Oya, Padaviya, Samath Nuwara, Parakkramapura and Gajabapura.
Drinking water, irrigated water, agro wells, milch cows, self-employments, infrastructure development, livelihood programmes, road development, settlement of land disputes, and electric fences have been provided to the villagers.
