President commissions Weheragala reservoir :
Indigenous talent pillars of development
*Reservoir constructed with technological know-how of local
expertise, support of local work force of around 1,000
*Commitment coupled with Government’s vision will pave way for
equity in development
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Weheragala reservoir
* Set up building a dam across Menik Ganga to store water which flows
into sea
* Reservoir will release 8.5 cubic metres of water per second
* Will provide water to cultivate 25,000 acres of paddy in Yala and
Maha seasons
*The reservoir is the third largest project of its kind
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa releasing the first waters of the
Weheragala reservoir (built using 100 percent local talent) on Saturday,
emphasized that the country’s future development thrust would be built
on the pillars of indigenous know-how, expertise and resources.
The President held up Weheragala as ample testimony to the existing
local talent, expertise and resources and identified the effort as being
reminiscent with the renowned engineering marvels of the country’s
historical past. The reservoir commissioned by the President on Saturday
was constructed using the technological know-how of local expertise with
a support local work force of around 1,000.
The Weheragala reservoir has been set up by building a dam across
Manik Ganga to store water which flows into the sea without being used
for a fruitful purpose.
The dam is set up in the Yala National Park on the Buttala -
Kataragama road and the water of Menik Ganga will be taken 23 kilometers
away to Lunugamvehera through a channel.
The reservoir will release 8.5 cubic metres of water per second
through its southern sluice-gate additionally providing 60 million cubic
metres of water to the Kirindi- Oya project annually.
This move will benefit around 6,000 families who are dependent on the
Kirindi- Oya waters.
The Weheragala Reservoir Project will provide water to cultivate
25,000 acres of paddy in both Yala and Maha seasons for farmers in
Kataragama, Tissamaharama, Lunug-amwehera and adjoining areas. Waters
released is expected to help in alleviating the scarcity of drinking
water especially in the sacred city of Kataragama.
The reservoir is the third largest project of its kind after the
Mahaweli and Kirindi-Oya mega development projects. The project has been
completed utilizing less than the total estimated cost of Rs. 1,900
million
President Rajapaksa noted that he was not only impressed with the
local talent and expertise when building the reservoir but also was very
impressed by their commitment. He said it was brought to his notice by
the military chief of the area some time back, an incident which took
place involving the chief engineer of the project, at a time when the
area was constantly under threat due to terrorist activities, which
portrayed his commitment to the cause.
According to the President, when the area military chief had visited
the engineers’ lodgings, his sub-ordinates had informed the officer that
their leader had gone missing. Fearing the worst, the military officer
with his men had gone in search of the engineer in the rain.
Finally he had found the engineer near one of the spill gates of the
reservoir trying to drag out a fallen log single handedly in the rain
which was blocking the gate. Citing this selfless act as one which
portrayed the commitment by the whole of the local staff in building the
re4reservoir under adverse conditions, the President said: “All
politicians and state workers who are paid servants of the public should
display such commitment in serving the masses and taking the country
forward”.
The President also claimed that such commitment coupled with the
vision of the present Government would pave way for equity in
development.
“I would ensure that equal opportunities and facilities are enjoyed
by all Sri Lankans irrespective of where they live. Terms such as border
and underdeveloped villages would not exist in the Sri Lankan map in the
future,” he added.
Ports, Aviation, Irrigation and Water Management Minister Chamal
Rajapaksa addressing the gathering said that Weheragala was languishing
behind where there was an acute need for an alternative water supply
route to Lunugamwehera after the project failed to store expected water
levels at it’s inception in 1980. He said farmers of Weerawila,
Debarawewa, Thanamalwila and Pannegamuwa will be able to cultivate both
Yala and Maha seasons with the project coming into being.
There is an acute shortage of drinking water during the Kataragama
pilgrimage season. The reservoir project will be a solution for that, he
added.
He added that another mega irrigation project-Uma Oya, which is in
its planning stage would be completed within four years and this would
help alleviate water related problems experienced in all the Grama
Sevaka divisions in Wellawaya.
Saturday’s commissioning ceremony was witnessed by more than 5,000
local farmers of the area who braved the scorching heat and rugged
terrain to witness the historic occasion.
The ceremony was also attended by the Maha Sangha. Mass Media and
Information Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Construction and
Engineering Services Minister Rajitha Senarathna, Nation Building
Minister Jagath Pushpakumara, Ministers Jayatissa Ranaweera, Mahinda
Amaraweera, Geethanjana Gunawardana, Basnayake Nilame of
Ruhunu-Kataragama Maha Devalaya and leader of the UPFA team for Uva
Province Sashindra Rajapaksa, Irrigation officials and others attended
the ceremony. |