The construction of South Asia's longest irrigation tunnel system was inaugurated at Palugaswewa in Anuradhapura under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today.
The irrigation tunnel stretches upto 28 kilometres.
The inauguration of the Palugaswewa tunnel's construction was done under the "Vaari Saubhagya" programme that covers over 5,000 lakes.
This was the sixth and final plan of the Mahaweli Development Programme in the Central region
The President stated that plans have been made to complete the Lakes Development Programme in Sri Lanka by 2025.
It was further stated that $244 MN has been allocated for the irrigation development through the funds of the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Sri Lanka.
"As proper irrigation and water supply has been the main reason of kidney failures in people of the region, this irrigation programme will benefit over 25,000 families in 13 Grama Niladhari divisions, while also providing water to 1,200 small lakes covering 43,000 hectares," the President said.
