Vilapukulam Anicut in Mullaitivu Revived — A New Chapter for Palampasi Farmers

A long-awaited moment of joy and pride unfolded in Palampasi of Oddusuddan Agrarian Service Center Division, Mullaitivu, as the rehabilitated Vilapukulam Anicut was officially handed over to the local farmers during the final and 11th Implementation Support Mission of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP). The event, held on November 1st, marked not just the completion of an infrastructure project but the beginning of renewed agricultural hope for hundreds of farming families in the area. 

Rehabilitated under the second phase of the CSIAP with a total investment of Rs. 23 million, the Vilapukulam Anicut now stands as a symbol of resilience and progress. The once aging and inefficient structure has been fully reconstructed with a modern gate system, ensuring reliable irrigation water to over 275 farmer families who cultivate nearly 1,200 acres of fertile land throughout the year.

Representing the World Bank, Mr. Seenithamby Manoharan, Senior Consultant for Agriculture and Rural Development, ceremonially handed over the rehabilitated anicut to the Palampasi Farmer Organisation. Speaking at the event, he appreciated the efforts of the project team and emphasized the importance of community-led maintenance to sustain the benefits for future generations. The ceremony drew participation from local farmers, community leaders, and officials from the CSIAP's Project Management Unit & Northern Provincial Office,  and the Department of Agrarian Services of Oddusuddan, all of whom celebrated the achievement as a milestone in enhancing climate-resilient agriculture in the Northern Province. 

The rehabilitation was carried out under the close supervision of Mr. George Babu, Deputy Project Director of CSIAP (Northern Province), with the technical expertise of Engineer Mr. B. Piratheep and the dedicated technical staff of the project. For the farming community of Palampasi, the new Vilapukulam Anicut is far more than a concrete structure — it represents a renewed promise of stability, productivity, and prosperity. With dependable water resources now flowing again, farmers can look forward to cultivating their lands with confidence, embracing a future made stronger through the vision of the CSIAP.