Farmers protest proposed tourist park

Ariyapala WANSATILLEKE, Kurunegala Central Special

The Irrigation Department has taken steps to set up a tourist park near Tiththawella Wewa, Kurunegala.

The tank was built during the Kurunegala Kingdom. More than 100 tanks along Kurunegala-Anuradhapura road have been destroyed in 1815 under British rule.

Nearly 500 acres of paddy lands come under this 20-acre irrigation tank.

The farmers of the area have protested the authorities against turning it to a tourist park. Irrigation Department is planning to convert the temple near the tank into a meditation clinic for the tourists.

The farmers request them to renovate this wewa for the benefit of farmers and not to put up a tourist park. Ethugalpura Farmer Society has decided to arrange a protest campaign against this.