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| Tuesday, 10 August 2004 |
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From Ranil Wijayapala in Kandy President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said the Government was working towards formulating a wide and integrated national plan to fulfill the water needs of the country. Addressing the ceremony to mark the commencement of the Greater Kandy Drinking Water Supply Project at Kondadeniya, Katugastota, President Kumaratunga said though several Governments talked about such a plan nothing has been done towards formulating it. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga inaugurated the construction works of the Greater Kandy Water Supply Project costing Rs. 4.8 billion aimed at solving the drinking water problem of over 450,000 people in Kandy and the adjoining areas. Stressing the need for a wide and integrated national plan to solve the country's water problem, President Kumaratunga said it was shameful for a country like Sri Lanka which inherits an irrigation civilisation to declare that we are not in a position to supply drinking water for the country's population. "If we can restore and maintain thousands of tanks inherited from our past, we do not have to construct new tanks," the President said. She said Sri Lanka has all the resources, expertise, mechanisms and scientists to solve the country's water problem. "The only need is to link all those resources and formulate an integrated national plan," the President added. President Kumaratunga said as pledged by the United People's Freedom Alliance at the election the Government has already made plans to begin work' on the rehabilitation of 10,000 tanks. "Under our leadership the relevant ministries have made arrangements to commence that programme," she added. President Kumaratunga said if steps can be taken to remove the mud deposited in the reservoirs and tanks, the country can cultivate more lands using them. She said the People's Alliance Government which came to power in 1994 took measures to solve the drinking water problem faced by the people in Kandy. After several feasibility studies the Government has been able to draw funds from the Japanese Government to implement the project. The President also said the Government was committed to solve the problems in the Kandy city which has the potential to become one of the most beautiful cities in Asia after restoring all the facilities there. The Greater Kandy Drinking Water Supply Project covers the areas of Kandy city, Gohagoda, Katugastota, Akurana, Kurugoda, Pujapitiya, Kahawatta, Pathadumbara, Kahalla, Polgolla, Madawala, Pihilladeniya, Ampitiya, Tennekumbura, Haragama, Hiressagala and Hantana. The completion of the project by 2010 and 2015 in three stages will solve the drinking water problem of more than 700,000 people in the Kandy district. Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Urban Development, Water Supply Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Akio Suda also spoke at the occasion. |
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