PM calls for action against destruction of water resources

Nihal Jayawardena and Kadugannawa group corr

Prime Minister D M Jayaratne said SAARC nations should raise a collective voice at the SAARC Summit held in the Maldives next year against the pollution and destruction caused to water resources by the extensive use of chemical fertilizer and the environmental pollution caused by industrialisation.

He was addressing the three-day international conference on community and water supply challenges for sustainability on its inaugural day on Thursday as its chief guest.

The Prime Minister who requested the Maldivian Housing and Environment Minister Mohamed Aslam and other delegates to support this call to alert the world about this challenge, added that access to pure and safe drinking water is a fundamental human right. In Sri Lanka almost 35 percent of the population now enjoyed the facility of pipe-borne water and the contribution made in this direction by community based organisations should be lauded.

The Prime Minister said Sri Lanka which has a history of over 2,500 years with a great irrigation culture occupied a prominent place in the world regarding collection, management and protection of water and water resources.

However, the whole world needs to formulate effective plans to prevent the destruction of water resources considering food production and development.

Delegates from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, Nigeria, the Philippines, the Maldives, Bangladesh and several other countries as well as community based organisations are attending the conference.