Govt. dedicated to protect rivers: Minister

Minister of Irrigation Duminda Dissanayake said the Government was dedicated to protect the rivers and to tap the water resources for the maximum benefit of the people.

Addressing the World River Day ceremony on the banks of Malwathu Oya river in Anuradhapura, the second longest river in the country, he said that it was the duty of the people to refrain from causing environmental damage to the rivers or polluting them.

The ceremony had been organised by the Anuradhapura District Office of the Department of Irrigation.

The Navy Personnel and the representatives of the Agrarian Societies cleaned the river through a shramadana and removed the Salvinia plants and garbage that polluted the river.

The Minister went on an inspection on a boat and his officials and supervised the shramadana campaign.

“The major rivers in the country are used as resources of drinking water.

“The Government has taken steps to protect them, but it is the duty of the people to maintain them without causing any environmental damage.

“The Government has implemented the Malwathu Oya River Development Project. I hope that the Malwathu Oya Reservoir Project could be inaugurated this year or early next year,” he said.

“Systematic exploitation of one million acre-feet of water that flows into the sea is the main object of the reservoir.the project would include a hydropower complex and an irrigation scheme to supply water for paddy cultivation in Wilachchiya and Thanthirimale,” the Minister said.

Director Irrigation Anuradhapura District Prasanna De Silva, Former Deputy Minister of Irrigation W.B. Ekanayake were present.