Protest over pipe borne water

Residents of six villages staged a protest demonstration against disconnecting the public water taps which had been the only source of drinking water of a large population in the area.

More than 500 people from Panamura, Atekanuwa, Allinthenna, Botiyawewa, Julketiya, and Uruwala participated.

They pointed out that Embilipitiya Pradeshiya Sabha had arbitrarily disconcerted the public water taps denying the drinking water service to the low-income families.

They said their areas were facing a severe shortage of drinking water due to the prevailing drought and their hardship was further aggravated by disconnecting the public water service.

The protestors accused the National Water Supply and Drainage Board of failing to provide domestic water services to them.

The protest was continuing for about three hours when Director of the NWSDB and Kolonna SLFP Organiser Shantha Ratnayake met the protestors and promised to provide the opportunity for a meeting with the Deputy General Manager of the NWSDB regarding the issue.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Embilipitiya Pradeshiya Sabha Syranthe Weerasinghe said the former chairman had obtained the water services in the name of a private businessman for which the Pradeshiya Sabha had received a bill for Rs.23,000.

He said the public funds could not be used to settle the bill for private water supply.