He made these remarks participating in a special discussion on the problems faced by the people affected by the above project, held at the President’s Official Residence, on Friday (30th June).

Representatives of the Civil Organizations also participated in this discussion and they presented the details of the issues that the people in Uva Province have to face due to this Uma Oya Project in detail at this meeting.

The President assured to speedily resolve the issues related to the housing facilities, drinking water and destruction for the crops or agricultural products.

The President further said that the Government after consulting with an Independent Technical Specialists team will look into the possibility of temporarily halting the project, until find solutions for the difficulties faced by the people.

Furthermore, a Norwegian Specialist team is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka at the first week of August and a Specialist from Germany has already started to investigate this issue, the President said adding that according to their ideas and suggestions, the Government will consider the possibility of taking forward this project while resolving the existing issues, minimizing the damages and utilizing the modern technology to a maximum level.

Ministers Mahinda Amaraweera, Harin Fernando, Vijith Vijithamuni Soysa, Uva Province Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dasanayaka, Uva Provincial Councilor Samantha Vidyarathna, Anura Dissanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Deputy Project Director of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development project P.B. Amarasekara participated in this meeting.