First ever research on country’s water resources

Priyanka Kurugala

Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva requested officers under his ministry to conduct the first-ever research on water deposits scattered across the country, amid reports that such deposits may face the risk of being contaminated.

The minister also asked the Water Resources Board to prepare a map of available water deposits in the country, once the research is completed.

The Board has commenced work on testing and mapping the water deposits in Jaffna, Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Hambantota, Matale, Ampara and Badulla districts.

"This is the first time, such a national programme is being implemented. In fact this is national requirement," said the Minister.

The government is to spend Rs 190 million for the whole project. He said that, Sri Lanka will face severe problem in utilizing, water

deposits in 25 years' time as the various chemicals could contaminate the deposits and leave them unhealthy to use.

The testing is conducted using the water samples obtained from tube wells. Samples are tested to obtain information on the capacity of water deposits, chemicals contained, salt percentage and bacterial contamination.

In areas where there are no tube wells, new tube wells will be constructed and already 250 have been erected within this year.