Mahaweli relies on local expertise now - Minister

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

Only local engineering services are used for Mahaweli construction works Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena said. Addressing the 26th annual summit of the Mahaweli Engineering Society, the Minister said, "We have to pay high salary and other payments to foreign engineers who work in our foreign funded projects. It badly affects the country's economy.

However it is necessary to pay more attention to the salaries and other payments when we sign agreements with foreign countries."

"We can't measure the huge contribution made for the country's economy by Mahaweli Development project. So the Mahaweli engineers always give their fullest support for these projects.

They have to face many difficulties when they do their work. Everyone knows that there is no good weather condition and good surroundings in the Mahaweli areas. Sometimes they have to work without even basic facilities."

"We only applied local engineering technologies for Moragahakanda-Kalu Ganga project and it is a great success of our engineers. We have already started a rehabilitation program to save our ancient water reservoirs," he said.

Mahaweli Authority Director General Darmasiri de Alwis, Mahaweli Engineering Society President Ananda Sellahewa, Secretory Kusum Jayawardane and members of the society participated at the occasion.