The Hon. (Dr.) Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, I provide the following answers.

¶ 02 (a) (i) Numbers under each agency: - Department of Irrigation: Large/Medium tanks – 241; Small tanks – (not applicable under this Department) - Department of Agrarian Development: Small tanks – 15,958 - Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka: Large/Medium reservoirs – 22; Small tanks – 654

¶ 03 (ii) Under the Department of Irrigation, the Kurunegala Zone is administered through five Regional Irrigation Engineer divisions. The numbers of large/medium reservoirs by division are: - Kurunegala: 03 large/medium; 02 small - Nikaweratiya: 02 large/medium; 01 small - Wariyapola: 01 large/medium; 00 small - Katugampola: 00 large/medium; 03 small - Galgamuwa: 03 large/medium; 04 small Total: 09 large/medium; 10 small

¶ 04 Under the Department of Agrarian Development, the number of minor tanks in the Kurunegala District is 5,733.

¶ 05 (iii) Tanks restored in Kurunegala District in recent years under allocations to the Irrigation Department/Ministry and through projects are as follows:

¶ 06 - 2021–2023 (Irrigation Prosperity Programme and Department/Ministry Heads) Restored tanks/reservoirs include: Bakbatallegoda, Usgala Siyambalagamuwa, Deduru Oya Reservoir, Meddekatiya, Kimbulwana, ODS3 tank, Makadura, Jaya Wewa (Palukadawala), Kiniyama, Attaragalla, among others.

¶ 07 - 2024 (Department/Ministry Heads and IWWRMP) Restorations include: Bakbatallegoda, Kiniyama, Attaragalla, Usgala Siyambalagamuwa, Deduru Oya Reservoir, Mediyawa, Galgamuwa Wewa, Diyawewa, Hakvatuna Oya, Hulugalla, Masurankotte Wewa, canal and embankment works.

¶ 08 - 2025 (ongoing under current allocations) Ongoing works include: rectification of seepage near Magalla Wewa; embankment strengthening and sluice/outlet repairs; restoration at Attaragalla Wewa; and associated development works.

¶ 09 Under the Department of Agrarian Development, the numbers of minor tanks restored in Kurunegala District over the last ten years are: 2015 – 00 2016 – 00 2017 – 161 2018 – 186 2019 – 172 2020 – 309 2021 – 159 2022 – 06 2023 – 107 2024 – 143

¶ 10 (iv) Restorations have been carried out through annual allocations under Departmental and Ministerial Heads, the “Irrigation Prosperity” and similar projects, and also via: - Dam Safety and Water Resources Planning Project (DSWRPP), - Climate Resilience Improvement Project (CRIP), and - Climate Resilience Multi-Phased Programmatic Approach (CResMPA), targeting modernization of large and medium tanks.

¶ 11 Department of Agrarian Development projects include: - Minor Irrigation Rehabilitation - “Gam Samaga Pilisandarak” - Rural Ellanga System Improvement - Farmers’ Trust Fund initiatives - “Sapiri Gamak” Programme - “Wew Gam Pubudamu” - ODS damage repairs - “Thurulu Start” Project - Climate Smart initiatives - Resource Bank projects - Silt removal programmes - SLCDF - SARP - World Vision - SAPP

¶ 12 (b) (i) Yes. The SARP project has been operational since 2023. (ii) The project targets implementation of 100 irrigation subprojects. In Kurunegala, 14 tanks have been completed; five additional schemes are underway in phase two. (iii) Yes, implemented in the Kurunegala District. (iv) Funding is through IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development). (v) Total allocation: Rs. 13,498 million. (vi) Allocation for Kurunegala District: Rs. 2,908 million. (vii) Typical components include: embankment rehabilitation; sluice and spill restoration; sorowwa/sluice repairs; fencing systems and concreting; downstream development and other structures; canal lining and water diversion works; tank bed clearance and bund marker setting. (viii) Yes, currently underway.

¶ 13 (c) Not applicable.