Uma Oya project:

Attractive compensation for resettlers

Chaminda Perera

An attractive compensation package will be offered for people who will be evacuated from their dwellings for the construction of the Uma Oya project. The project will bring irrigational water to the Hambantota district and also generate 120MW of power.

The Cabinet of Ministers have approved the provision of alternative lands and houses to over 205 families in Puhulpola in the Welimada DS Division where the main dam will be constructed. According to an Irrigation and Water Management Ministry spokesman, two tea estates in the Welimada area have been earmarked to provide

alternative lands for 101 farmer families who will be landless due to this project. They will receive farming lands from Hadapanagala area.

The Government will also construct new houses for 68 families who will be removed from their dwellings due to this project. About 46 families who have erected temporary houses in the Puhulpola area will also be given new lands and houses.

The Government will discuss with these families before this plan is implemented. This project costing over Rs. 55,000 million is funded by the Governments of Iran and Sri Lanka. Over 85 percent of the project cost is borne by the Iranian Government.

Under this project, a power house will be built at Wellawaya which is 22 KM away from the reservoir at Puhulpola in the Welimada DS Division.