The proposals submitted to the Cabinet regarding the supply of water from the Samanalawewa Reservoir for agriculture purposes while ensuring uninterrupted supply of electricity have been approved.
This has been approved in the Cabinet meeting held yesterday (07) afternoon under patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Four alternative proposals have been discussed regarding the uninterrupted supply of electricity and water for agriculture and the release water for drinking purposes under the present weather conditions.
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera and Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera have presented these proposals to the Cabinet.
According to this, arrangements have been made to provide the maximum amount of water needed for agriculture from the Samanalawewa Reservoir, said State Minister for Energy D.V. Chanaka.
A special discussion regarding the management of the impact of the dry spell on the release of water from Samanalawewa Reservoir and power generation due to the drought was chaired by Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera yesterday (07), with the participation of the State Minister for Energy D.V. Chanaka.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Irrigation Department are planning to release the required water from Samanalawewa for agricultural and irrigation purposes while developing a joint programme to provide continuous electricity.
The Power and Energy Ministry and the Irrigation Department have held a special discussion in this regard at the Presidential Secretariat, where the discussion points are to be presented to the Cabinet as a proposal. A discussion was held yesterday (07) also at the Power and Energy Ministry. Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said that the solutions discussed and proposed jointly by the CEB and the Irrigation Department will be presented to the Cabinet immediately.
President’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake, State Minister D.V. Chanaka and officials of the CEB and Irrigation Department participated in the meeting.
Buddhika Imbulana and Rakshana Sriyantha