News
Residents assured that Rs. 40m allocated for removal of salinity barrier across Nilwala river
View(s):- Protestors withdraw following written assurance given just 10 minutes before President’s visit to the area
- Issue taken up for discussion by the Committee of Ways and Means in Parliament
By Priyantha Dassanayake and Ryan Casiechetty
Farmers and villages protesting over the salinity barrier constructed across the Nilwala river in Matara have been assured that Rs 40 million allocated from the decentralised budget will be used to resolve the issue, but many villages are not convinced.
The Matara District Secretariat on Friday provided a written assurance to the villagers protesting over the issue that the District Coordinating Committee has approved Rs 40 million and that the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation Board will begin clearing off the sand barrier soon.
Residents and environmentalists had pointed out that the barrier had resulted in severe flooding that was experienced in Matara following heavy rains. Crops were also destroyed.
The controversial salinity barrier constructed across the Nilwala river in Matara
Soon after the assurance was given, a section of those participating in the 11-day protest near the Matara bus stand withdrew from the area. The acting District Secretary Shantha Weerasinghe, held a discussion on the issue later.
The assurance was given just 10 minutes before President Ranil Wickremesinghe took part in an official visit to the area.
However, some protestors refused to withdraw from the area, but police dispersed the group.
Earlier, the police had sought a court order to disperse the protestors on the grounds that they were posing a security threat and that they may damage the salinity barrier, but the court rejected the request.
Meanwhile, the issue of the salinity barrier was taken up for discussion by the Committee of Ways and Means in Parliament, presided over by MP Patali Champika Ranawaka.
The Central Engineering Consulting Bureau, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, and other relevant institutions were represented at the meeting.
The salinity barrier across the Nilwala River from Ussangoda to Pitaduwa was constructed to prevent sea water from mixing with river water during the dry season. It was aimed at getting clean drinking water for residents in the area during the dry season.
This project was done under the guidance of the Ministry of Irrigation and the Lanka Hydraulic Institute.
The key points highlighted during the meeting were that all the relevant institutions should work together and conduct a study on measures that could be taken to prevent a possible flood situation in April.
Minister Ranawaka further said that he wanted to see a final report on the damage to crops last year and recommendations for the compensation that should be given to farmers.
Additionally, it was decided that immediate steps must be taken to remove the sand barrier and that maintenance work be carried out on the dam. A report was also called for on measures to restore five old reservoirs, which could be useful to improve the water supply in the area.
It was also reported that there was a shortage of fuel for pump houses that released rainwater into the river in the Nilwala safe area. It was also revealed that they were poorly maintained.
The protest was on its 11th day when it was called off. However, some remained and were dispersed by the police
Back in 2016, before the project began, the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) stated that the construction of the salinity barrier could cause the flood level to rise severely and have a huge impact on the livelihoods of the residents of that area. Yet these warnings were ignored by the authorities when constructing it.
Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, speaking in Parliament on January 23, 2024, stated that around 12,000 acres of land have been destroyed due to this salinity barrier.
The letter from the Matara District Secretariat that was handed over to the protestors
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