World Bank concludes NEIAP assessment study

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 October 2004, 10:40 GMT]
A World Bank team comprising foreign experts and Sri Lanka task leader Mr.Nihal Fernando concluded its four-day assessment study regarding the first stage of the North East Irrigated Agriculture Project-I (NEIAP-I) works carried out in three districts Manner, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu in the north province and the border district Anuradhapura district, sources said.

The assessment study included the development projects carried out under the NEIAP- I which commenced in the year 2000 and to conclude in June next year and the preparatory work for the NEIAP-II, which is to be launched in January 2005, sources said.

The World Bank team visited three focal villages in the Vavuniya district, Eachchankulam, Paththiniyarmahilankulam and Poovarasankulam on Monday and another team visited Ranrawa and Mathavachchiya, two focal villages in the border district Anuradhapura.

Later on the day the team held in Vavuniya district secretariat with the Government Agent in the chair and reviewed the progress of the first stage of the NEIAP development work, NEIAP sources said.

The team visited three focal villages, Sirukkandal, Perichcharkattu, and Challampankulam in Mannar district on Tuesday and held discussions at the office of the Murunkan Irrigation Engineer regarding the progress achieved in the implementation of the projects and also about the proposed repairs to the Giant Tank, sources said.

On the third day of the tour Wednesday, the World Bank team visited the Mullaitivu district and inspected the progress of the first stage of the development projects carried out in three focal villages, Iyankulam, Old Murikandy and Ambalaperumal. Later the WB team held a review meeting at the Office of the Deputy Regional Director of Irrigation, sources said.

The assessment study concluded with a meeting held at the auditorium of the Anuradhapura Irrigation Department Thursday in the presence of all the Government Agents of the districts of Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Anuradhapura. NEIAP officials also attended the discussion, NEIAP sources said.