Archives

Drinking water may be the most expensive item in future - Minister

by Maharagama special correspondent - Vehelle Piyathilake

"Today a litre of bottled water is Rs. 40.00. A litre of milk is Rs. 15.00. A litre of Petrol is Rs. 52.00. In another 25 years drinking water may be the most expensive of all things," said Minister of Irrigation and Water Management, Jayawickrama Perera addressing the awards presentation ceremony held at Mahaweli Centre, Colombo 7 for the winners of the video film competition on 'Drinking Water' organised by the Mahaweli centre the Minister added.

"Water will be the wealth in the near future, water in the Earth in getting less and less. The population of the globe is increasing daily but water is decreasing we can live for some days without food but without water we cannot live more than a day. 2/3 of the earth is covered with water but only 2% of the water can be utilized as drinking water.

Therefore it is the utmost responsibility of all of us to save and safeguard water. In the olden days kings punished the people who wasted water. King Prakkramabahu the great once said "Do not allow a drop of rain water to flow into the ocean without using for farming". Likewise they made arrangements to store water in giant tanks and appointed water guards (wel vidanes) to save the water. No life can exist without water.

There are some countries in the world where people are dying without water. In another 25 years water will be the most valuable export commodity in the world.

Fifty years ago 60% of the country was covered with rain forests. Today it is below 20% due to illicit felling and unplanned development projects.

Before you cut a tree plant at least two. It is our utmost responsibility to save trees for the future generation.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager