The Minister said that it was planned to construct two tanks in the vicinity of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and that this was a proposal brought forth by the Irrigation Department many years ago. He advised not to provoke the public without accurate proof.

The Minister was responding to a question raised by Buddhika Pathirana M.P regarding this matter in Parliament today (23).

The Minister said that the Irrigation Department had a plan to divert water from the Kalu, Gin, and Nilwala rivers to the North East about 90 years ago but no government had implemented the project. He further added that a large number of people affected by the floods are living in the area and the aim was to prevent floods.

The Minister explained that UNESCO has also been requested to conduct a study on this project to find whether it will cause major damage