Water project for Northern Province by Presidents office

President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday that the water issue faced by the people in the North which was the biggest cause of poverty among them should be immediately addressed.

President Sirisena made these remarks at a meeting held to review the progress of the proposed water project of the Northern Province at the Presidents office.

President Sirisena further pointed out that the main livelihood of these people in North is agriculture and people must be provided ample water for the agriculture and if it is properly done it would be a solution for rest of the development issues.

Meanwhile the President emphasized the importance of immediately carrying on the proposed project previously commenced by him to channel water which is flowing without any use over Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kalutara areas towards north through tunnels.

Without destroying the environment the project can be implemented for the benefit of people of North to provide immediate benefits, said the President.

The progress was reviewed of the other projects carried on in the North to eradicate the water shortage and the agricultural issues.

The proposed northern Maha ela project,the Yapanayata gangak project to be implemented with the funds from Netherlands in 2020 and the project carried on related to Ellanga development systems in the North and North Central Province with the aids of JAICA was also discussed and their progress was reviewed.

State Minister for Mahaweli Development and Environment Ajith Manapperuma, and the Secretary of the Ministry Anura Dissanayake and the officers of the ministry were present at this event.