Mega water scheme in Mannar

Rafik JALALDEEN

The Northern Provincial Council opened a mega scheme under the Uthuru Vasanthaya (Northern Spring) program to provide pure drinking water to people in the Mannar District.

Northern Province Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri said it was reported that following the liberation of Mannar there was a shortage in pure drinking water.

Therefore, the Northern Provincial Council has taken steps to fulfill this vital need under the Uthuru Vasanthaya program.

He noted that civilians who were displaced from their native places due to the conflict have now returned to their homes as the Government has provided promising security to them. They are now in the process of improving their livelihoods.

"They were confronted with a major problem of finding water in the dry zone area.

It is as a solution to this issue that the Government has embarked on a massive project under the Uthuru Vasanthaya program to meet the drinking water needs of the people of this area," Chandrasiri told the Daily News.

The first stage of this scheme was opened by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

Asian Development Bank President Haruhiko Kuroda who was present on this occasion pledged continued assistance to Sri Lanka to improve livelihoods of the people. He said that they would also continue support the alleviation of poverty.