Giving New Life to Neeravi Oottukulam Tank: A New Hope for the Farmers of Mullaitivu

"Every drop of water is a hope for a farmer. A tank is a living heritage that carries that hope forward for generations." For many years, the people of Thanneerittu village in Mullaitivu have been waiting for reliable water facilities. Today, that long-awaited hope is once again beginning to bear fruit before their eyes, with the revival of the Neeravi Oottukulam Tank.

This is not merely the rehabilitation of a tank. It is the revival of hope among a community that has been looking towards cultivation and a better future.

In line with the vision of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and under the guidance of K. D. Lal Kantha, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, the national "Wari Mahima – Ape Urumaya" programme has taken another important step towards strengthening the livelihoods of Sri Lanka's farming community.

One of the key objectives of this national programme is to rehabilitate tanks and irrigation systems while safeguarding Sri Lanka's ancient irrigation heritage and empowering farming communities economically and socially. The programme is being implemented across several selected districts with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation and all institutions affiliated with the Ministry, with the aim of improving the living standards of people whose primary livelihoods depend on agriculture and fisheries.

Among the districts identified for irrigation development under this national programme, Mullaitivu holds a special place. Many people in Mullaitivu, a district affected by dry and semi-arid climatic conditions, depend primarily on agriculture and fisheries for their livelihoods. Therefore, developing local water resources and expanding irrigation facilities are essential to strengthening the livelihoods of the people in the area. Recognizing this need, the development of the Neeravi Oottukulam Tank, located in the Thanneerittu village of Mullaitivu District, commenced on July 1, under the leadership of K. D. Lal Kantha, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation.

The occasion was attended by Aravinda Senarath, Deputy Minister of Lands and Irrigation; Dr. Thilakanathan, Member of Parliament representing Mullaitivu District; Uma Maheshwaran, Mullaitivu District Secretary; Engineer Chandana Edirisuriya, Director of the "Wari Mahima – Ape Urumaya" national programme; along with a number of government officials and distinguished invitees.

Accordingly, this project will go beyond simply rehabilitating another tank. It will become a development initiative with a direct impact on increasing agricultural production among the farming community of Mullaitivu and strengthening their sources of income. Furthermore, the development of the tank is expected to provide a degree of relief to the drinking-water shortage that has affected the people of the area for many years.

Another notable achievement is that, within just 20 days of the commencement of the project, nearly 50 percent of the overall development work had been successfully completed. According to the planned schedule, construction is expected to be completed within the next 45 days, after which the Neeravi Oottukulam Tank is expected to be handed over for the benefit of the people.

To monitor the progress of the development work, Upali Samarasinghe, Deputy Minister of Cooperative Development and Chairman of the District Development Committees for Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Mannar Districts, together with Mr. Canisius, Director for the Northern and North Central Provinces of the "Wari Mahima – Ape Urumaya" programme, and relevant government officials, conducted an inspection visit on July 20. During the visit, the Deputy Minister commended the engineering team of the "Wari Mahima – Ape Urumaya" programme for implementing the construction work efficiently, systematically and in accordance with the required standards and within the scheduled timeframe. The need to expedite the remaining work according to a proper plan and ensure maximum benefits for the people was also emphasized.

Residents of the area have expressed their appreciation for the redevelopment of the Neeravi Oottukulam Tank, which they have been awaiting for many years. They point out that the project will not only ensure the availability of water required for cultivation but will also strengthen the income of farming families and give new momentum to the overall economy of the area.

Water is the lifeblood of agriculture. A tank is not merely a place where water is stored; it is the foundation of the future of farming families, food security and the rural economy. In this sense, giving new life to the Neeravi Oottukulam Tank means giving the people of Mullaitivu a renewed hope for the future.

Through tank rehabilitation and development projects such as this, implemented under the "Wari Mahima – Ape Urumaya" national programme, the government aims to safeguard the country's irrigation heritage, provide sustainable solutions to farmers who have faced water-related challenges for many years, increase agricultural production and improve the living standards of rural communities. The development of the Neeravi Oottukulam Tank represents another important step towards achieving these objectives. The new life given to a tank today will become a new hope tomorrow for hundreds of farming families and their future generations.