POTENTIALS OF KALUGANGA REMAIN UNTAPPED SINCE INDEPENDENCE: GOVERNOR TIKIRI KOBBEKADUWA

Sabaragamuwa Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa said development project to tap the potentials of Kaluganga had not been implemented since independence and expressed concern about the waste of vast expanse of water. Addressing the District Disaster Management Committee he said the river flowed into the sea without being used gainfully and caused a flood threat annually.

The Governor pointed out that the Kaluganga had only been a source of disaster during floods and during drought, the water supply that depended on it failed. He said President Gotabaya

President Gotabhaya Rajapakse had instructed him to implement long term and short term plans to prevent the flood threat and a development project to harness its potentials

Rajapaksa instructed him to implement long term and short term plans to prevent the flood threat and a development project to harness its potentials.

“As an initiative, an effective mechanism is being implemented to record the water level constantly in Kaluganga in Ratnapura and its tributaries and to release data live to the media through the internet. A selfoperating water gauge system with facilities to obtain visuals live had already been installed near the Muwagama Bridge in Ratnapura and steps were being taken to install similar water gauges near Kuruwita, Ella, Galatura, Dela and Denawaka Bridges. The project would be expanded to all areas from Ratnapura, Horana and Kalutara,” he said.

Ratnapura District Secretary Malani Lokupothagama said floods in May 2017 had caused a damage of Rs. 19,500 million to the physical resources including property in the public and private sector institutions in Ratnapura District alone and more than 100 people had perished.