Tissa Tank being dredged as Uma Oya project has failed – MONLAR

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Various parties had managed to divert attention from the ecological damage caused by the dredging of the Tissamaharama tank by highlighting the fact that the Chinese nationals engaged in dredging operations were wearing clothes similar to a military uniform, Sajeewa Chamikara of the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) said.

Tissamaharama tank and several adjoining tanks were the nucleus of Sri Lanka’s first sanctuary. The area is protected by the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance (FFPO), the National Environmental Act (NEA), and several other acts apart from laws governing archaeological sites, Chamikara said.

Thousands of farmers who cultivated 3,115 acres of paddy land and over 200 families of freshwater fishermen were dependent on the tank, he said.

“These families will also be affected because the tank is being dredged to expand its capacity and use that waste for a large number of development activities in Hambantota. The government initially thought the Uma Oya project would provide enough water for development activities in Hambantota, but as we predicted the project has failed. The decision to expand the Tissamaharama tank is a measure to address this,” he said.

According to the FFPO and NEA, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) had to be obtained prior to the commencement of any development activity, Chamikara said, adding that not even a feasibility study had been conducted before the Chinese company concerned was awarded the contract to remove the sediment that had greatly reduced the tank’s capacity.

“The NEA says that one needs an EIA before doing any development activity in a sanctuary and the Land Act states that an EIA is necessary before doing any work near a tank. The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has the power to take action when such laws are violated. But what can the CEA do when the government sanctions such violations. This is an assault on the law. By reducing this issue to Chinese workers wearing military style overalls is a trick to distract people from the real damage,” Chamikara said.