Iranian President to arrive on Monday
Rohan MATHES
COLOMBO: President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad and President Mahinda Rajapaksa will ceremonially inaugurate
the construction of the multi-purpose Uma Oya project at Alikota Aara in
Wellawaya on Tuesday.
The Iranian President will begin his visit on Monday. He will hold
talks with President Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka
and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama.
The dam which would be constructed across the Uma Oya in Puhulpolla
Welimada, in the Uva Province, will irrigate the Kirindi Oya reservoir
in Wellawaya and generate 100 Megawatts of power to the national grid.
This will be the longest ever hydro-tunnel built in the country. The
Iranian Government will fund the project.
It is envisaged that the multi-purpose project will provide potable
water, irrigate and facilitate agriculture and other industries in the
Uva and Southern provinces. It will develop new cities, new roads and
enhance job opportunities in the region.
It will also irrigate 5,000 acres of paddy fields in Handapanagala in
Wellassa, 2,000 acres in Kuda Oya, and also develop Athiliweva and
Maagal Oya.
The Hambantota Harbour, the Wirawila Airport, the new Southern
Industrial zone and to Lunugamvehera reservoir will be provided with
water from Uma Oya. Several bilateral agreements will be signed during
the Iranian President’s visit. |