The Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board (AAIB) stated that compensation payments for farmers in the Matara District who were unable to cultivate due to the salinity barrier constructed across the Nilwala River commenced yesterday (27). 

The salinity barrier was constructed in 2019 by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board as a special project aimed at preventing seawater from mixing with drinking water sources in the Matara District.

However, since 2019, flooding caused by rainfall has repeatedly resulted in crop damage and made cultivation impossible in several areas, particularly within the agrarian service divisions of Madihagoda, Kekanadura, Kamburupitiya, Malimbada and Medauyangoda.

Farmers and farmer organisations had continuously raised concerns with relevant authorities regarding the issue. Cabinet approval has now been granted to provide compensation for seven consecutive cultivation seasons from 2019 to 2022.

Compensation will be paid for lands that could not be cultivated during the 2019 Yala season, 2019/20 Maha season, 2020 Yala season, 2020/21 Maha season, 2021 Yala season, 2021/22 Maha season and 2022 Yala season.

The Government has allocated Rs  1.2 billion through the 2026 National Budget for compensation related to uncultivated lands.

The Matara District Secretariat, the Department of Agrarian Development, the Department of Agriculture and the AAIB are jointly carrying out the compensation programme.

Compensation will be provided to around 5,000 farmers covering nearly 12,800 acres of uncultivated land. As an initial step, symbolic compensation payments were to be handed over to 250 selected farmers at the Malimbada Pradeshiya Sabha auditorium. Payments to all remaining beneficiaries are expected to be completed within the following 14 days.