The farmer water supply dispute, which was the subject of a two-decade legal battle, has been concluded by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court has delivered the final verdict in a long-standing legal dispute, spanning nearly two decades, between a farmer from the Aralaganwila area in Polonnaruwa and a local farmer's organization, concerning the supply of irrigation water. Accordingly, the Supreme Court bench has taken steps to reject the appeal filed by the petitioner-farmer, thereby affirming the decision previously given by the High Court.

This legal battle originated in 2006, when preparations were being made to commence cultivation activities for the Yala season. Due to the farmer's default on a loan of approximately Rs. 15,000, the Maduruthanna Bedum Ela Farmer's Organization temporarily suspended the water supply to his paddy land. Officials of this voluntary organization, operating under the Mahaweli Development Authority, pointed out that members are bound to act in accordance with the organization's rules and traditions, and that this water disconnection was an impactful measure taken to recover the outstanding loan amount.

Claiming that he suffered a significant financial loss due to the suspension of the water supply, the farmer filed a lawsuit in court, seeking a compensation of two hundred thousand rupees (Rs. 200,000). During the proceedings, it was revealed in court that there was an opportunity to reach an agreement through negotiation rather than adopting such a confrontational approach against the farmer.

Considering the facts of the incident, the Polonnaruwa District Court, on September 09, 2016, ruled in favor of the farmer and ordered the payment of one hundred thousand rupees in compensation. However, the North Central Provincial High Court, considering the appeal filed against that decision, overturned the District Court's ruling on March 20, 2018, and dismissed the case. Finally, although the farmer appealed to the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court affirmed the High Court's decision and rejected the petition, bringing an end to this farmer-water dispute that had lasted for nearly two decades.