Rambakenoya project:

More land under the plough for Maha and Yala season

By Naalir Jamaldeen

President Mahinda Rajapaksa unveils the plaque of Rambakenoya reservoir

Newly constructed spill gates.

The spill gate construction site

Work in progress

School children at the water releasing session to the canal.

The Rambakenoya reservoir will be a boon and will improve the economy and livelihood in the region. Over 4,000 acres of cultivable land will come under the plough in the Maha and Yala Seasons. Rambakenoya is one of the main irrigation projects after the Galoya project in the Digamadulla district, a spokesman for the Irrigation and Water Resources Management Ministry said.

Sri Lanka's irrigation system has a long history which began since the era of local kings who ruled the country. Irrigation and agriculture is interconnected with the life of people since ancient days. The history of agriculture began with the advent of the Aryans. King Maha Prakramabahu once had said that even a single drop of water should not be left to waste and sent into the sea. His eagerness to improve the agriculture sector was immeasurable.

Mahinda Chinthanaya national development concept was formulated to find an immediate solution to the problems of the rural people, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said after commissioning the Rambakenoya reservoir.

A large number of small, medium and large scale irrigation development projects have been implemented across the country including Deduru Oya in the Kurunegala district, Moragahakanda and Rambakenoya in the Matale and Ampara districts. The Deduru Oya project is expected to be completed by the end of this year and the development work of Moragahakanda reservoir has been expedited, President Rajapaksa said.

"After achieving the historical victory against terrorism, we promised the people that the country will have enough water to achieve self-sufficiency in agriculture and to help people victimised by terrorism" the President said.

The development work of the Weharagala reservoir has already been completed. Kekilogoda Mawara in Hambantota, Ellapothana in Anuradhapura, Kalugaloya in Ampara, Uma Oya in Wellawaya, Kumbukkan Oya in Monaragala and Yan Oya in Trincomalee are some of the other irrigation projects implemented by the Government, he said.

The Government has planned to implement more irrigation projects soon. Villages are the main stakeholders of all these development projects, the President said.

The Rambakenoya reservoir development project was completed at a cost of Rs. 3,970 million funded by the Government.

A section of the people who were present at the commissioning ceremony.

History records says that Rambakenoya was constructed by King Sadhhathissa in 400 AD. However, the work was never completed.

The Rambakenoya reservoir has been constructed by building a bund 3,600 feet in length and 81 feet in height across the Rambakenoya river. The project will provide permanent solution to the water problems in agriculture a and drinking water as well. The Rambakenoya area will also be developed as the 10th Mahaweli zone. The people in the Eastern province will benefit with the implementation of the reservoir development project, Irrigation and Water Resources Development Ministry sources said.

Earlier agricultural activities in the Rambakenoya, Maha Oya, Padiyathalawa and Ridmaliyadda depended on rain water. Crop destruction accompanied by the drought due to lack of rainfall

in these areas where farmers experienced losses. There was permanent water source to facilitate cultivation. Most of the farmers were engaged in chena cultivation, according to Ministry sources.

The Government has taken steps to develop infrastructure facilities in Maha Oya, Padiyathalawa and Ridmaliyadda and other Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the Digamadulla district in line with the Rambakenoya reservoir development project, Ministry sources said.

The monthly income of over 23,000 families who live in the Maha Oya Divisional Secretariat (DS) Division is low compared their income and undergo to inconvenience. Education activities of their children have also been affected by poverty.

Then Irrigation Minister, Chamal Rajapaksa laid the foundation stone for the the Rambakenoya Reservoir development project in February 12, 2007.

Plans are afoot to provide water to 12,000 acres of cultivable land in the Mitiyawatta area on par with the Rambakenoya reservoir development project, Ministry sources said.

The Government has implemented various livelihood, community and infrastructure development projects in the region.

Meanwhile steps have been taken to provide accommodation facilities to Mahaveli officers and to construct houses for teachers and health sector officers in the Pollebedda area, the sources said. Several infrastructure development programs will also be implemented in the Ridimaliyadda division. Kiriwelladda tank will be developed while renovating the Yodhawewa Anicut, Ministry sources said.

The Government has implemented diverse development projects in Pollebedda area parallel to Rambakenoya reservoir development project such as providing water to 1,700 acres of paddy land, the Ministry sources pointed out.

Livestock development is one among the livelihood development projects to be implemented in the Rambakenoya area. A Rs. 50,000 worth dairy cow will be given to farmers willing to run dairy farms. Chicks will also be provided to farmers free of charge.

Enough incentives and technical assistance will be provided by the Government to promote highland crop cultivation and home gardening under the Rambakenoya scheme. The same program will be implemented in the Maha Oya, Padiyathalawa and Ridimaliyadda areas, Ministry sources said.

Steps have been taken to introduce mango, guava, pomegranate, paper and papaya cultivation in these areas. In the initial stage it will be carried out as a pilot project and depending on the success will be expanded to other areas in the region, sources said.

A cashew preservation centre will be set up at Ridimaliyadda.

A series of training sessions will be conducted for the farmers in the area to teach them about modern agricultural technology and how to handle modern agricultural equipment. They will also be given a chance to handle and see modern agricultural equipment. A nursery has been set up at Hingurulanda to supply various varieties of coconut plants to farmers, sources said.