31st August 2025
As a solution to the acute drinking water shortage faced by the people of Matara, the Sri Lanka Army has undertaken the construction of a temporary salinity barrier adjacent to the existing Nilwala River barrier at Thudawa.
The project is being carried out on the instructions of the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo RSP ctf-ndu psc IG in collaboration with the Disaster Management Centre - Matara. A 25-member team from the 9th Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment is providing full support to the operation, which is scheduled to take place on 29 and 30 August 2025.
The initiative comes in response to a request from the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, aimed at preventing saline water from entering the pumping stations during the ongoing dry season. By reinforcing the location with sandbags, the temporary barrier will ensure that the flow of saline water into the pumping facilities is effectively blocked.
With the successful completion of this effort, Matara residents will once again have access to uninterrupted 24-hour drinking water supply, while the area’s pumping stations will also be restored to round-the-clock operational status.
