Colombo, Jan 11 (NIA) – Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday inaugurated the water filling process into the Moragahakanda dam reservoir in Central Sri Lanka to fulfill the urgent water demand in several districts.
The project is the biggest multi-functional irrigation project in the island country.
Sirisena inaugurated the water filling process in the presence of China’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka,Yi Xianliang and several ministers.
The project was constructed with the assistance of Sinohydro Corporation China, one of the 25 largest construction companies in the world, at an estimated cost of 252 million dollars.
Sirisena, last year said the Moragahakanda reservoir project would resolve the agricultural and drinking water problems faced by the farmers in Rajarata, ending their years long sorrowful tale.
It is expected that the annual agricultural benefits from paddy cultivation alone as a result of the Moragahakanda project would be around US $ 30.1 million while the fresh water fish breeding industry would contribute around Rs. 1.67 million to the national economy via benefits from this project. Most importantly, through power generation, the country would annually save US $ 2.49 billion.
The foundation stone for the Moragahakanda project, was laid by President Sirisena in 2007 when he was the Minister of Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Development.
