Rs. 1.2 bn allocated to compensate farmers affected by Nilwala salt barrier

By Mangala Pavithrani 

Colombo, April 21 (Daily Mirror) - The Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board says that Rs. 1,200 million has been allocated under the 2026 Budget to compensate farmers for crop damage caused by the saltwater barrier constructed along the Nilwala River.

In a statement, the Board said that the barrier, built in 2019 to prevent saltwater intrusion into drinking water sources in the Matara District, has led to repeated damage to paddy cultivation over the years.

According to the Board, paddy lands in areas including Dikwella, Kamburupitiya, Kekunadura, Madiha, Malimbada, Meda Uyangoda, Kalalla and Wilpita have been continuously affected since 2019.

The government has decided to provide compensation for losses incurred over seven consecutive cultivation seasons, from the 2019 Yala season to the 2022 Yala season.

The statement further said that although farmers and farmer organisations had raised concerns with previous governments, adequate action had not been taken at the time, resulting in the worsening of the situation.

However, the Board added that the current government has taken steps to address the issue by allocating funds to compensate affected farmers.