Cabinet Approves Rs. 1 Bn "Vari Mahima – Ape Urumaya" Irrigation Restoration 📈

The Cabinet of Ministers has greenlit a nationwide initiative to rehabilitate Sri Lanka’s rural irrigation networks, focusing on food security and water management. • Overall Investment: Rs. 1,000 million has been allocated under the 2026 Budget for the program titled Vari Mahima – Ape Urumaya. • Key Focus Areas: Restoration and modernization of small-scale village irrigation schemes, sluice networks, and related agricultural units. • Objectives: • Addressing structural damage and siltation in community-managed water systems. • Combating the impacts of climate change and illegal settlements in conservation zones. • Enhancing agricultural productivity and water-use efficiency for rural farming communities. • National Impact: The project aims to revitalize the farming economy by strengthening irrigation reliability, which is central to national food security and sustaining rural livelihoods. _Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation_