Sri Lanka to re-start lower Uma Oya Reservoir construction, other halted projects
EconomyNext: Sri Lanka is prioritizing re-starting partially built irrigation tank projects including the lower Uma Oya Reservoir, Deputy Minister for Land and Irrigation Susil Ranasinghe said.
Several reservoirs including Kivul Oya reservoir, Mundeni Aru reservoir, Uma Oya were halted due to the economic crisis, he told parliament.
“Our priority is finishing the halted projects. Lower Uma Oya is one; About 85 percent of this is completed,” he said in answer to a question by W H M Dharmasena.
“We are focusing on completing the halted projects that can be finished soon.”
He was responding to a question by Dharmasena whether Kumbukkan Oya reservoir, a planned new reservoir, can be started.
“We won’t be starting on that right now.”
In the 2025 budget, Rs. 3.4 billion have been allocated for irrigation in the Monaragala district, he said.
Of that 2,150 million was for the Lower Uma Oya project. “We want to complete that this year.
“Likewise, Raja Ela in Buttala has been allocated 600 million to be completed this year.
“Several smaller tanks have also been allocated funds.
“We plan to increase the 2026 Maha season paddy cultivation area to 26,000 acres.”
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s development programme presents many business/investment opportunities for foreign businesses/investors on the lookout for opportunities in the region. Some key development projects in the country already have funding lines and committed funds by bilateral and multilateral donor agencies. The opportunities for such projects would therefore be straightforward with funds available. However, the large-scale development projects have several stages or phases where there are many business/investment opportunities. With Sri Lanka on the path to becoming a hub in the South Asian region, the country’s development programme would also see a steady expansion to set up the facilities required to meet the increasing demand. It is in such a backdrop that Sri Lanka is looking at restarting stalled development projects. The growing business potential and increasing demand would therefore make the opportunities in Sri Lanka’s development programme lucrative ones for foreign businesses/investors. This factor is evident by the interest shown by foreign businesses/investors to explore the expanding business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20250804/Z_2 |