Restoration work on the historic Elahera Anicut commenced on Sunday (10) under the national programme “Wari Mahima – Our Heritage”.
The project was launched with the participation of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Minister K.D. Lal Kantha, Minister of Buddhist, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, and Deputy Minister of Housing Construction and Water Supply T.B. Sarath.
The Elahera Anicut, a world heritage site severely damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, is being restored in its initial phase with an estimated allocation of Rs. 309,144,000.
Speaking at the event, Minister Lal Kantha stressed the importance of paddy cultivation in the Polonnaruwa District, noting that 90 per cent of the area depends on rice farming.
He assured farmers that sufficient fertilizer stocks have already been imported and distribution for the Yala season has begun through agrarian service centres, with private institutions also authorized to distribute supplies.
The minister further stressed the need for economic diversification among farmers. “If a farmer can rear even five dairy cows, it is valuable. We must look at alternative income sources instead of relying solely on paddy cultivation. Income diversification is essential,” he added. (Newswire)