News
Equitable sharing of water is a powerful factor in maintaining peace and harmony among communities
The equitable sharing of water stored in the upper reaches of the Ampara district, which is predominantly Sinhalese, with the Tamil and Muslim communities in the lower coastal area in the Batticaloa district, is a powerful factor in maintaining peace and harmony in the eastern province, Dr. Hilmy Sally, independent irrigation and water management professional recently said at a conference organized by the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL).
Sally who was speaking on how water can be used to promote peace said that Sri Lanka has a historic tradition of this.
“The pinthaliya placed at the village can be considered as a water for peace,” he said.
He pointed out that the Senanayaka Samudraya, Sri Lanka’s largest reservoir located in Ampara, provides water for agricultural and drinking water requirements of all three major communities.
“In early 2000, the water from Nachchaduwa in the Upper Malwathu Oya basin where the Sinhalese live was released to satisfy the water needs of Tamil farmers in the lower Malwathu Oya basin and as a gesture of thanks and goodwill, the Tamil community actively participated in the annual ‘Poson dansela’. These examples show the pivotal role that water can play in promoting reconciliation and long lasting peace, and fostering a common Sri Lankan identity,” Sally said.
Dr. Sally said the Mahaweli Development Project was designed to divert excess water in the Mahaweli River basin to the dry areas of the North Central, Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka. However, even after 50 years of the commencement of the project, several sub-projects, especially in the North, have not been implemented.
“So the driest and most water needy areas still wait for water because the North Central Province Canal project has not been established. The North Central Province canal component includes water transfer over 200 kilometres from South to North. 70 percent from gravity transfer from Randenigala Reservoir and the rest through pumping from lower Mahaweli River at Janaranjana Wewa. The implementation has been delayed for several reasons. There are unsubstantiated objections about the cost of water lifting and inadequacy of water for the North Central Province Canal diversion,” he said.
He added that there is also fear among professionals and communities of the Northern Province that the canal command may declare a Mahaweli area which will place the land under the Mahaweli Authority. They believe this will lead to loss of control of lands under the Northern Provincial Council, Sally said.
“The canal project could have lifted the farming communities living in the Northern Province,” he said.
The expert said that Sri Lanka is rich in water resources but has issues with water stress. Sri Lanka also ranks high as a hotspot on the Global Climate Risk Index, specifically in regard to climate change induced risks to water.
“Climate externalities create vulnerability in the country’s water infrastructure and water security. This can lead to severe consequences for lives and livelihoods, especially in sectors like agriculture. There is an urgent need for strategies to move from water risk and conflict to water cooperation and understanding,” he said.
Sally said conflicts and disputes are often brought on by competing interests and not necessarily because there is too little water. Sri Lanka has multiple levels of decentralization and there is also unclear demarcation of roles and responsibilities at each level.
“There is a lack of integrated technological and institutional framework to promote sustainable resource management in Sri Lanka,” he said.
Sally said local communities are not always consulted in decision making about ‘their’ water although these communities ultimately have to bear the costs and impacts of some of these projects. (RK)
News
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (07) are Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon.
By Norman Palihawadane
The CID recently found that former SLPP Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara, better known as ‘Choka Malli’, had left for Thailand when the Supreme Court imposed an overseas travel ban on him last Friday.
The CID discovered that Jayasekara had left Sri Lanka on August 31, while authorities were taking steps to enforce the travel restriction imposed by the Supreme Court. The Department has subsequently informed the Attorney General’s Department of the development.
The Supreme Court last Friday ordered Jayasekara, and two other men, to appear before court on October 21, and imposed a ban on their overseas travel.
The orders were made as the Supreme Court considered an appeal challenging the acquittal of the three men in connection with the 2015 murder of Shantha Dodangoda, also known as D.G. Sunil Perera.
The appeal was filed by Dodangoda’s wife against a decision of the Court of Appeal to acquit and release Jayasekara and the two other accused, who had previously been convicted and sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court.
Dodangoda was killed in a shooting in Kahawatta town, in the early hours of January 5, 2015, while a group of people were putting up decorations for an election rally in support of then common Opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena.
Two others, Karunadasa Weerasinghe and Mohamed Ilfan, were seriously injured in the shooting.
Following the incident, the Ratnapura High Court convicted Jayasekara, former Chairman of the Kahawatta Pradeshiya Sabha Wajira Darshana de Silva, and former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council member Nilanta Jayakody, sentencing all three to death.
The Court of Appeal subsequently acquitted the three men and ordered their release.
The victim’s wife later challenged the acquittal before the Supreme Court.
The appeal was taken up before a Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli and Gihan Kulatunga.
During the proceedings, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara requested that the court impose overseas travel restrictions on Jayasekara and the other respondents.
The Supreme Court subsequently ordered all three to appear before the court on October 21 and imposed travel bans on them.
President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty, President’s Counsel U.R. de Silva and President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne appeared for the respondents. President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris represented the aggrieved party.
Police sources said that the discovery that Jayasekara had already left for Thailand, on August 31, has raised concerns over the timing and enforcement of the travel ban.
Sources said that the CID had notified the Attorney General’s Department and was taking further action in relation to the development.
By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
The number of deaths from dengue fever in Sri Lanka has risen to 73 this year, with 96,228 cases reported across the country so far, according to the Dengue Control Unit.
The latest figures indicate that dengue continues to pose a significant public health concern, with 737 new cases recorded during the first four days of September alone.
Dengue infections peaked in July, when 29,964 cases were reported, according to the latest data. June recorded the second-highest monthly total, with 21,533 cases, while 10,155 cases were reported in August.
Earlier in the year, 8,590 cases were recorded in May and 7,866 cases in January.The Western Province remains the worst-affected area, accounting for more than half of all dengue cases reported nationwide. A total of 50,851 cases have been recorded in the province, representing 52.84% of the country’s total.
The Southern Province has recorded 13,950 cases, followed by the Central Province with 8,818 cases and Sabaragamuwa Province with 7,925 cases.
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
Showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in the Uva and Eastern provinces.
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‘Choka Malli’ slips out of country before travel ban
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