The program was launched under the patronage of Mahaweli Zones Canals and Settlements Common Infrastructure Development State Minister Siripala Gamlath and with the participation of Trincomalee District MP Kapila Nuwan Athukorala and Polonnaruwa District MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala.

Rehabilitation work began yesterday in the anicuts of Egodayaya, Janaranjanayaya, Kivul ela, Halambayaya, Nadi Viharaya in the Kantale Sooriyapura Mahaweli Division.

The program has been launched at a cost of Rs.3.5 million.

Irrigation to these farmlands was interrupted for several years due to the non-rehabilitation of these anicuts thereby affecting the farmer community in the area.

All irrigation tanks and anicuts within the Mahaweli Zones are under rehabilitation under the guidance of Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa.

Meanwhile, State Minister Siripala Gamlath accompanied by his fellow parliamentarians engaged in a tour of the Janaranjana tank area to inspect the progress of the proposed canal from the Janaranjana tank of Trincomalee to Kanthi tank via Sinha tank and Sooriyawewa tank.

Sate Minister Siripala Gamlath pointed out that after the completion of the construction of this canal from the Janaranaja tank, the other irrigation reservoirs in the area would be fed throughout the year thereby helping the farmer community to increase their cultivations.

The total length of the proposed canal would be 2.4 kilometres and its preliminary feasibility study activities have already been completed.

Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority has identified that 6000 acres in the area could be irrigated by this project.

Medirigiriya Pradeshiya Sabah Chairman Shantha Kumara Wickramaarachchi, Mahaweli D Zone Residential Enterprise Project Manager Gamini Gunawardana, Sooriyapura Divisional Manager Anurudhdhika Priyadarshani and several others joined State Minister Gamlath during his anicut rehabilitation opening program and the subsequent inspection tour.