The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation
Deputy Minister Susil Ranasinghe, replying to Question 836/2025, provided details of the North-Central Great Canal Project, initiated in March 2015 and implemented in six phases covering canal, tunnel and water-transfer works from Moragahakanda through to Mahakandarawa Oya, with a map placed in the Library. He said the project will benefit Matale, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura by providing reliable irrigation to 12,300 hectares, supporting 25,000 farm families, supplying 40 million cubic metres of drinking water annually to about 150,000 families, and improving groundwater and local economic activity. He stated that completion is scheduled for 24 June 2025, but progress is currently 20.5 per cent physically and Rs. 40,600 million financially, with delays attributed to tunnel tender re-evaluation after Uma Oya leakage concerns, COVID-19, the 2022 economic crisis, input shortages and price increases, and delayed loan disbursements.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, responding to Question 836/2025 on the North-Central Great Canal Project:
¶ 02 (a) (i) Initiated in 2015 (month: March). (ii) Implemented in six phases: 1. Construction from Moragahakanda to Kongahagoda (Km 0+100 to 3+980): UEC-ICB-1. 2. From Kongahagoda to Madathtawa Weva (Km 3+980 to 17+718): NCPCP-3. 3. From Madathtawa to Kolanduruwa Main Portal (Km 17+718 to 27+509): NCPCP-4. 4. Tunnel construction from Km 27+509 to 55+600: UEC-ICB-2A. 5. From Namalapura to Yakalla with outlets (Km 55+600 to 65+500), plus transfer canal Yakalla to Maminioya (Km 0+000 to 6+131) and Maminioya improvement (Km 4+000 to 13+309): NCPCP-5. 6. Improvement of Eruwewa South Bank Canal up to Mahakandarawa Oya (Km 0+000 to 10+494): NCPCP-6.
¶ 03 A map is annexed and placed in the Library.
¶ 04 (iii) Beneficiary districts: Matale, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura. (iv) Expected benefits: - Continuous water supply to Huruluwewa, Mannakkattiya, Eruwewa, Mahakandarawa, Nachchaduwa, Nuwarawewa and Tissawewa, enabling Yala and Maha cultivation over 12,300 hectares without uncertainty. - Increased incomes for 25,000 farm families. - 40 million cubic metres of potable water annually for about 150,000 families. - Raised groundwater and wider local economic benefits.
¶ 05 (b) (i) Yes. (ii) Scheduled completion: 24 June 2025. (iii) Delays due to multiple reasons: the need to re-evaluate after leakage issues in the Uma Oya project before tendering the 27.7 km main tunnel (initial tendering prepared in 2017; after review, procurement concluded in 2019 and construction began in 2020); COVID-19 disruptions in 2020–2021; 2022 economic crisis impacting inputs (steel reinforcement, explosives) with price spikes; and three loan tranches due in 2023 being delayed until October 2024, directly affecting payments and progress. (iv) Current progress: - Physical: 20.5% - Financial: Rs. 40,600 million.
¶ 06 (c) Not applicable.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Tuesday, 3 June 2025 ·No. 1750149440002739 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 3 June 2025. No. 1750149440002739. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/10040