News
Authorities paying little heed to Negombo’s key waterways Maha Oya and Hamilton canal
View(s):The Maha Oya River and the historical Dutch Hamilton Canal in the Katana and Negombo Divisional Secretariat areas are sorry sights today with authorities paying little heed to their state.
The 134 km long Maha Oya runs through four provinces and five districts falling into the sea at the estuary at Poruthota on the border of the Western Province.
People living on either side of the river and even outsiders dump their garbage, even large blocks of concrete slabs removed from demolished buildings are seen floating in the once beautiful Oya.
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- Polluted waters of the Hamilton canal
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- D.F.P.S.D.Perera
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- Some of the sudents involved in the Parisara Niyamu teams
When questioned about this, Katana Divisional Secretary A . S .J .P. Athukorala told the Sunday Times that she assumed duties very recently and knew nothing about this and directed the writer to the Planning Section. But they had little or no answers too.
It was same story with officers at the Negombo office the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC), which is presently involved in development work on Hamilton Canal funded by Holland.
A fisherman, Sunil, who was seated in his boat on the bank said that they use to canal only to take their boats out to sea. He said those living on either side of the river have laid pipe lines out of their toilets into the canal.
Negombo Zonal Education Office D.F.P.S.D.Perera said it was important to educate children from a young age on the importance of protecting the environment. He said more than 50 Parisara Niyamu teams have been formed with the participation of schoolchildren.
A school principal in the are Palitha Appuhamy said it was important to inculcate in children the value of protecting the area’s heritage and environment but he lamented that today’s education is solely exam driven.
- K.L Richard Walter Perera
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