Irrigation Ministry Secy. sends report to PM

Death of farmer over water distribution

The secretary of the Ministry of Irrigation Gamini Rajakaruna yesterday sent a report on the death of a farmer in Medirigiriya, allegedly over a disagreement that arose relating to the distribution of water.

This report has been submitted by the irrigation ministry on the directive sent to him by the Prime Minister’s Secretary on t he Prime Minister’s instructions’ as revealed by the Government Information Department.

An altercation had taken place between Agrarian Service Officers and famers in the Gomarankanda area in Medirigiriya which had led to this killing. Following the

Earlier, farmers were able to irrigate and grow paddy right across the land in the area as water was freely available as the rains that prevailed from time to time had assisted them in their endevour

incident the office bearers of the 120 Farmer Organizations had been taken into custody according to the report.

Water to this area is supplied by the Kaudulla Irrigation Scheme. Earlier, farmers were able to irrigate and grow paddy right across the land in the area as water was freely available as the rains that prevailed from time to time had assisted them in their endevour. However, when the rains stopped and water became scarce the authorities had not been able to keep up with the needs of the farmers with regards to the water needed for the cultivation of paddy from the water scheme. This situation had resulted in bad relations developing between the two parties which had ended tragically with the death of a farmer.

The Secretary of Irrigation had made his recommendations i n his written report to the Prime Minister.