COLOMBO : Compensation was awarded this Wednesday morning May (27) under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to farmers who were unable to cultivate their lands between 2019 and 2022 due to flooding caused by the salinity barrier in the Nilwala River. The event was held at the Malimbada Pradeshiya Sabha Auditorium in Matara.
The salinity barrier, constructed in 2019, caused continuous damage to agricultural lands in several areas of the Matara District, including Kamburupitiya, Kekanadura, Malimbada, Wilpita, Madiha and Thalalla.
Although previous governments failed to provide a proper solution to the issue, the present Government allocated Rs. 1.2 billion in the 2026 Budget to compensate the affected farmers. Accordingly, compensation is being paid for seven consecutive cultivation seasons, from the 2019 Yala season to the 2022 Yala season.
