• Vari Saubhagya” irrigation development programme to renovate tanks, reservoirs and canals had been inaugurated by Minister of Irrigation Chamal Rajapaksa

By Dileep Jayasekara - Tissamaharama 

 
The ongoing project to remove silt in the Tissa Wewa tank by a private company manning Chinese employees wearing a controversial military style camouflage uniforms, was suspended pending permission from the Department of Archaeology.   

Hambantota District Assistant Director of Archaeology Wasantha Alahakoon had informed the Department of Irrigation on the instructions of the Director General of Archaeology Anura Manatunga to suspend the project undertaken by a Chinese company.   

The pilot project under the government’s “Vari Saubhagya” irrigation development programme to renovate tanks, reservoirs and canals had been inaugurated by Minister of Irrigation Chamal Rajapaksa.   

Meanwhile, the uniforms worn by the Chinese workers, which appeared to be similar to camouflage fatigues worn by the military had been subject to severe criticism by many quarters of the country last week.   

Archaeological officers pointed out that the Tissa Wewa tank in the close proximity to the Tissamaharama Cheithiya had a host of archeological remains washed away during floods and deposited in its bed and that any renovation should receive the approval of the Department of Archaeology.