The proposed reservoir will be constructed based on the Malwathu Oya flowing via Anuradhapura and joining the sea at Silawathurai in the Mannar district. The dam of the reservoir would be 3 1/2 kilometres in length, Mannar Chief Irrigation Engineer Palitha Wickramatilake told the MCND.

"The capacity of the reservoir will be 185,000 acre-feet. Around 7,000 hectares would get submerged for the tank.

The project will solve the Mannar district water problem. A hydro power station will be installed at the centre of the dam," Wickramatilake said.

He said the main tanks in Mannar, such as the Giant tank, Agathimuruppu tank and the Viyadikulam tank would get water throughout the year from the scheme.