Ministry programme to reconstruct river valleys

Priyanka KURUGALA

The Irrigation and Water Management Ministry launched a special programme to resonstruct 103 river valleys in the country this year, Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

Rs 100 million will be allocated for the project, the minister said. He said a proper programme has not been implemented to protect river valleys during the past the 60 years.

The minister said if river valleys are not protected, it can cause immense destruction.

“Sri Lanka has drawn up many plans to face challenges. The programme to protect river valleys is one of the plans in this regard,” he said. Steps will be taken to present a Bill in Parliament to pass an Act to protect river valleys this year, the minister said.