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Upper Kotmale project to go ahead

by Rashomi Silva

Deputy Minister of Power and Energy Sagala Ratnayake said the Government will go ahead with the proposed Upper Kotmale Hydro power station.

The Minister expressed this view on his inspection tour to the proposed Upper Kotmale Hydro Power plant station on Monday. "The Government will take every possible measure to minimise the impact that the proposed project will have on the environment", Ratnayake said.

Minister Ratnayake expressed optimism of reaching a consensus with Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, A. Thondaman.

"We have to take the views of Minister Thondaman into consideration. He represents an important community in this country. We must respect his views" Ratnayake said. The Minister said the Government had reached a compromise with Minister Thondaman, after a series of discussions with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister Karu Jayasuriya. "We cleared all misunderstandings once.

I believe we will be able to come into a settlement again. We will hold discussions with Minister Thondaman when Minister Jayasuriya returns to the island", he said.

"We will set up an awareness programme that will educate the people on resettlements and the pros and cons of the power station. I personally love the environment. But we have to give something to gain something," Ratnayake said.

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