The national programme “Wari Mahima – Our Heritage,” aimed at rehabilitating small irrigation tanks, was officially launched in Mullaitivu District today – on Wednesday, 01 July 2026, by Hon. K.D. Lalkantha, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock Development, Land and Irrigation.
The national programme was ceremonially inaugurated by Minister Hon. K.D. Lalkantha at the Neeravi Oottrukulam tank in Mullaitivu District. The rehabilitation work for this tank is expected to be completed within 75 days. While only about 70 acres of land under this tank are currently being cultivated, once the rehabilitation work is completed, favourable conditions will be created enabling cultivation on approximately 600 acres.
The event was attended by Minister of Agriculture, Livestock Development, Land and Irrigation Hon. K.D. Lalkantha; Deputy Minister Hon. Aravinda Senaratne; Members of Parliament Hon. Selvarajah Thilakanathan and Hon. M. Jegatheeswaran; the Chief Secretary of the Northern Province; the District Secretaries of Mullaitivu and Mannar; the Secretary to the Governor, representing the Governor of the Northern Province; the Secretary of the Provincial Ministry of Agriculture, Northern Province; the Project Director; the Provincial Director of Department of Irrigation ,Northern Province and several other senior officials.
Following a formal welcome extended to the guests present at the event, the plaque of the national programme was unveiled by the Hon. Minister. Subsequently, the tank’s rehabilitation work was officially commenced. The stage events continued thereafter.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Hon. K.D. Lalkantha stated that he had received numerous complaints regarding the encroachment of agricultural lands belonging to the people of the Northern Province by the Forest Department, and noted that Member of Parliament Hon. Selvarajah Thilakanathan had also raised this issue. He said the matter had been discussed at Cabinet level, and that special committees headed by District Secretaries had already been established, with procedures under way to release such lands.
The Minister noted that the Northern Province had suffered severe setbacks and damage in all respects due to the war, and that the irrigation infrastructure in the region had also been completely affected. With a view to restoring this, the government had decided to strengthen the structure of the tanks, which was why this national programme had been commenced from Mullaitivu District, he said.
Commenting on paddy procurement, he pointed out that during the major cultivation season (Maha), farmers had not supplied their paddy to the Paddy Marketing Board at the guaranteed price set by the government, instead waiting in anticipation of further price increases. He noted that the Paddy Marketing Board is unable to procure paddy on a continuous basis and only does so during the harvesting season, and that it was those farmers who withheld their paddy from sale who were most affected when paddy prices subsequently fell. He said the government accepted the need to expand paddy storage facilities in the province, and that with the minor cultivation season (Yala) harvest now beginning, steps had already been initiated to procure paddy at fair prices through the Paddy Marketing Board.
He stated that he wished to convey a clear message to private traders who purchase paddy: purchasing paddy at prices below the rate fixed by the government is a legal offence, and legal action would definitely be taken against those who do so. He added that discussions would also be held with rice mill owners who purchase paddy, in order to ascertain the difficulties they face in procuring paddy at the fixed price. He affirmed that this government, being a government for the people, would always stand on the side of the people.
He further pointed out that politicians within the government were no longer accepting bribes, but that bribery still occurred in a few instances involving state officials in certain government departments, and gave an assurance that the government would completely eliminate such practices as well. He noted that while the government works with dedication around the clock to develop the country, the state machinery operates for only eight hours, and that in some places, the public complains that even during those eight hours, state officials do not work fully. Minister Hon. K.D. Lalkantha appealed to state officials that working those eight hours would suffice, provided that during that time they served the people of the country with complete dedication.
