No illegal cultivations in lands owned by Sri Lanka Irrigation Department

The Sri Lankan government will not allow for public to use lands owned by the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority and the Irrigation Department, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management Nimal Siripala de Silva has said.


The Minister has explained that illegal cultivation in river basins and other environmentally sensitive areas have caused natural hazards and human activities have caused damages to tanks and reservoirs at a greater degree during recent inclement weather.

Minister de Silva has told the State-run radio SLBC that said that the government has to spend over 1.8 billion rupees to renovate damaged tanks and reservoirs due to the recent deluge in the Eastern and North Central provinces.

According to the Minister Sri Lanka will not encounter a food crisis as a result of the floods due to the government's proper planning to increase food production.

He has also said that one million domestic cultivation units will be established to cope with a possible food shortage.