Latest updates from the HEC Mitigation Project in Koonketiya

Although the timeline was slightly extended due to unavoidable delays, the renovation work on the Koonketiya water tank on the border of Block 4 in Yala National Park is nearing its end. The spillway and the outlet door are under construction and upon completion, will signal a successful end to this project. As an additional benefit of this project, 2,500 Tilapia fish were released into the tank. These robust fish adapt to most environments quickly and also breed rapidly. As a result, these Tilapia fish will provide a much needed boost to the inland fishing industry, which is exclusively made up of daily wage earners. It is estimated that a community of nearly 400 in Koonketiya and nearby villages, involved in farming and fishing, will directly benefit from the renovation work being done, in addition to the reduction of, and eventual end to, the HEC.