The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock
On behalf of the Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Minister, the Deputy Minister stated that the Senapura anicut in Meewellawa GN Division, Thirappane DS Division, was constructed at a total cost of Rs. 32.43 million in 2023 and 2024. He said it benefits about 70 farming families and irrigates approximately 120 acres of paddy land. Addressing concerns about sand deposition, he reported that sand washed into nearby field margins during rehabilitation works had been removed and that officials and local farmers confirmed the completed anicut is not causing damage to fields.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, I answer as follows:
¶ 02 (a) (i) Yes. An anicut named “Senapura” (Senakapura Yaya) has been constructed in Meewellawa GN Division, Thirappane DS Division, Anuradhapura District.
¶ 03 (ii) Expenditure under Department of Agrarian Development provisions: - 2023: Rs. 9,412,772.14 - 2024: Rs. 23,020,600.34 Total: Rs. 32,433,372.48
¶ 04 (iii) Approximately 70 farming families benefit.
¶ 05 (iv) Approximately 120 acres of paddy land are irrigated.
¶ 06 (v) Yes.
¶ 07 (vi) As per the field inspection by the Deputy Commissioner (Agrarian Development), Divisional Engineer and Technical Officer, the sand brought for rehabilitation works had been heaped near paddy fields, and rains had washed some into adjacent “liyadda” (field margins). That sand has now been removed, and it is confirmed that the anicut construction does not cause sand deposition damaging fields. Farmers cultivating nearby have confirmed there is no damage post-construction.
¶ 08 (b) Not applicable.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Tuesday, 3 February 2026 ·No. 23252 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 3 February 2026. No. 23252. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/8689