No more flood threat from Nilwala

Floods in Matara will be a thing of the past and people of Matara will never face a flood threat from the Nilwala Ganga in future as we took measures to control floods under the leadership and guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. We are extremely happy that we were able to solve this longstanding flood problem which was conveniently dodged by past governments, said Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva

He said so at a meeting held near the Magallagoda water pumping station to mark the installation of 27 water pumps at Tudawe, Magallagoda, Talgahagoda and Akuressa recently.

The project had cost Rs 200 million under the Nilwala Ganga flood protection scheme.

The minister said a large number of water pumps installed under the Nilwala flood control and protection scheme in the 1980s had remained inactive in the recent past.

All the pumps installed are now fully operative to protect nearly 6,000 hectares of paddy lands from floods.

He said the new pumps installed would pump out excess waters of Nilwala Ganga into the sea during a flood situation.

Each pump was able to pump out 50,000 litres of water per minute.

"The operation cost of these pumps is almost equal to the sum spent on their installation.

"People should give thought to this colossal expenditure and use water carefully," he said.

The minister said the government would soon overcome all obstacles and implement the Gin- Nilwala project to direct flood waters to the Hambantota district. Ministers Dallas Alahapperuma, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Chandrasiri Gajadheera, and Parliamentarian Hemal Gunasekara were also present on the occasion.