Govt. to set up Mahaweli Special Economic Zone covering 4 districts to boost rural development

The Government is to enhance rural development by setting up a Mahaweli Special Economic Zone covering the four Districts of Kurunegala, Puttalam, Anuradhapura and Matale.

The Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday approved a resolution submitted by the Minister of Irrigation to establish the Mahaweli Special Economic Zone by declaring the geographical area comprising 410 Grama Niladhari divisions covering 26 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the four districts. The move is under the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority Act No. 23 of 1979.

The Government said Mahaweli Water Conservation Investment Program has been implemented as a pioneer project targeting the productive consumption of excess water in the Mahaweli River basin for agri-economic process of the rural community living in the sub river basins in the North Western, North Central and Northern Provinces as well as fulfilment of drinking and industrial water requirement of that rural community. 

Plans are in the pipeline to construct two artificial channel systems – North Western Great Channel which is 88.9 kilometres long and North Central Great Channel which is 95.7 kilometres long. These two will nourish 1,500 rural tanks/reservoirs with seven new storage tanks during the next four years.

Additionally construction activities of the new Deduru Oya Reservoir across Deduru Oya and the related constructions have been completed by now. This will supply irrigation water for cultivation of the two seasons for 25,000 acres of lands utilising 200 small reservoirs as well as supply drinking water facilities for 50,000 new consumers while generating electricity through a renewable energy project of 1.5 MW.

The Government said underdeveloped land areas had been recognised for development through an accelerated and combined rural development process covering 26 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the Districts of Kurunegala, Puttalam, Anuradhapura and Matale under these two projects. 

This will be done with a consolidated investment plan with the participation of all the relevant ministries and institutions and implemented over the next three years.