Sri Lanka, Dec. 12 -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $200 million loan to support Sri Lanka's largest multi-purpose water resources development program, the Mahaweli Development Program, it was announced yesterday (11).

The program aims to divert excess water from the Mahaweli River to the dry northern and northwestern regions.

The Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program Phase 2 project will directly benefit more than 35,600 farming families in the North Central Province by strengthening the resilience of the agricultural sector and improving food security.

In addition to the ADB financing, the ADB is contributing through joint co-financing to the project, which is expected to raise $60 million from the OPEC Fund fo...