Tension at awareness meeting

Tension erupted when Mahaweli Development officials met with the residents of Ihala Kotawera village, yesterday to educate them on the water-filling ceremony of the Puhulpola Reservoir of the Uma Oya project which is to be held today(11).

At the outset of the discussions held at the Ihala Kotawera Community Centre, the residents threatened to obstruct water-filling ceremony unless they were allowed to access their village along the Puhulpola Reservoir bund.

Mahaweli officials in reply said, identity cards would be issued to residents to cross the bund concerning their own safety, as well as the safety of the bund. This led to a heated exchange of words and a tense atmosphere at the meeting.