Iranamadu Reservoir Project to Solve Water Problem of Sri Lanka's North

10th November 2010, www.dailynews.lk

Discussions are underway with the Asian Development Bank to commence the proposed Iranamadu Reservoir Project at a cost of Rs 220 billion, Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda said.

"With the completion of this project in three years, the water problem in the North both for drinking and cultivation would cease to exist," he said.

Devananda was speaking at a ceremony in Jaffna to mark the commencement of Jaffna Kilinochchi Water Supply and Sanitation Project by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board and the opening of Jaffna District Water Supply and Drainage Board recently.

Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardene who visited Jaffna, opened the Project Office with Minister Devananda. Minister Devananda said that because President Mahinda Rajapaksa's promise and effort, 643,459 in the North who suffered immensely due to the water shortage would greatly benefit. Minister Gunawardene said the water problem of the people of the North would be a thing of the past in three years after completion of the Iranamadu Reservoir Project.

The Minister also emphasized the importance of rain water harvesting through which a large quantity of water could be saved and utilized for various purposes. A special program in this regard would be launched in Jaffna in the future, he added. Rs 315 million has been set aside for projects intended to solve the water problem of the people of the North. "The National Water Supply and Drainage Board should work in close relationship with the local bodies," he said.

Minister Gunawardene also visited Nagadeepa with Minister Devananda and after having worshipped the Shrine, had talks with Nagadeepa Buddhist Shrine Chief incumbent Ven Kadawedduwe Nandarama Thera and promised to solve the water problem of the devotees within two weeks.

The Kaithady water project that had been completed with Rs 2 million was opened by the two Ministers.

Sri Lanka to Set up an Aviation Complex at Makeshift Airstrip Built by the LTTE in Iranamadu

26th March 2010, www.news.lk

The makeshift airstrip built by the LTTE in the jungles of the North is to be turned into an aviation complex under government post-war reconstruction plans. The proposal is part of a regional development plan for the Northern Province.

The LTTE built an airstrip in the thick jungles of Iranamadu near an irrigation reservoir, when the area was under their control.

At a seminar organised by the Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council to brief investors on investment opportunities, the Director of Geographical Information Systems of the Urban Development Authority said that the Government will develop the airstrip into an aviation complex. It will be equipped with a training and research institute.

Another former Tiger stronghold in Mullaitivu, on the northeast coast, has been earmarked as a centre for fisheries-based engineering
equipment industry and for sea-based eco-tourism.

6,000 Farmers to Benefit by Rehabilitation of Largest Tank in Northern Sri Lanka

06th March 2010, www.dailynews.lk, By Anura Maitipe

The Northern Re-awakening Project has taken initiatives to rehabilitate Iranamadu Tank at a cost of Rs. 200 million with World Bank assistance to provide irrigation facilities to resettled families in the Kilinochchi district, Project Director PH Sugathadasa said.

The tank located in the Northern part of the district is the main irrigation tank in the province.

earlier it had provided irrigation facilities to over 8,000 hectares under gravity irrigation and another 455 hectares under lift irrigation system.

However, the war situation had caused severe damage to this tank. As a result the cultivatable land extent of this tank has reduced from 8,455 to 3,000 hectares, he said. This tank originally built by the Dutch with a capacity of 49 million cubic meters of water (MCM) was taken over by the Irrigation Department. The Department has increased the tank capacity to 131 MCM in three stages, he added.

The rehabilitation work will commence soon.

Over 6,000 farmer families in Kilinochchi will benefit. It will also be a permanent solution for the drinking water problem of the Jaffna Peninsula, he noted.