US $ 5,400 per capita income level, a reality soon - minister
Ishara MUDUGAMUWA
Sri Lanka will achieve a per capita income level of US $ 5,400 in the
near future. It will enable us to stop seeking foreign assistance for
development projects, Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister
Nimal Siripala de Silva said.
Participating in the signing of the contract for the construction of
the Moragahakanda Reservoir Headworks Project at the Mahaweli Centre
yesterday, Minister de Silva said the implementation of the
Moragahakanda- Kaluganga Development Project was delayed due to reasons
such as environmental issues.
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The ceremony to sign the contract for the construction of
Moragahakanda Reservoir Headworks Project was held at
the Mahaweli Centre yesterday. The contract was signed by
Sinohydro Corporation Vice President Feng Yanan and Irrigation
and Water Resources Management Ministry Secretary
Ivan de Silva. Irrigation and Water Resources Management
Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Health Minister
Maithripala Sirisena, Irrigation and Water Resources Management
Deputy Minister W B Ekanayake and Charge de
Affairs of the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka Renfa Qiang
also participated. |
"When we undertake a construction project, we should give priority to
environmental conservation," the minister said.
He said though we have sufficient funds, we cannot continue the
project without following legal procedure. "We have never carried out a
project of this nature. For the first time an RCC dam will be
constructed under this project," de Silva said.
Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said the Moragahakanda -
Kaluganga project will end the tears and sorrow of the people in the
North Central and Eastern Provinces.
"They have been suffering for 200 years without sufficient water for
agriculture," he said.
The minister said the Kaluganga Project could be completed with
financial assistance from Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
"Following the Mahaweli Development Project, the Moragahakanda-
Kaluganga is the only other helpful to the agriculture sector as the
others were constructed for hydro power generation," the minister said .
Minister Sirisena said it was included in the Mahinda Chinthanaya and
launched on January 25, 2007. "The project's objective is to provide
water for agricultural activities in the North Central and Eastern
Provinces and solve the drinking water problem," he said.
About 27 mega watts will be added to the national grid under this
project. Since its launch, construction up to the No 2 saddle dam has
been completed using local funds. The Chinese government has agreed to
provide loan facilities for the construction of the main dam, the first
sub dam and the connected hydro power plant.
The Chinese construction firm Sino Hydro Corporation signed an
agreement for Rs 32,800 million with the Irrigation and Water Resources
Management Ministry to undertake construction. |
