Kalu Ganga project will be completed next month - President

By Sandun A. Jayasekera

The Kalu Ganga project, the next huge reservoir of the Moragahakanda venture can be completed by next month and vested with the people, President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday.   

The construction of Wayamba canal that supplies water to the north west and the Upper Elahera canal that provides water to North and the Minipe canal have also been expedited, the President said.   

President Sirisena made these comments at the launch of “Mahaweli – the River of Reconciliation” and “Mahaweli after 95” books today.   

The Mahaweli Development Project which served the nation for four decades will continue to fertile our land for many more years said the President adding that he was fortunate 
to take the lead to complete the Moragahakanda venture as the largest agricultural development project of the country. 

Addressing the gathering President added that he has witnessed the struggle of the farmers for water and land. Moragahakanda provides a solution to a long- standing issue faced by our farmers. President paid his gratitude to all those who contributed their fair share to realize his dream of the successful completion of this project.   

‘Mahaweli after 95’ was written as a historical document containing information about the Mahaweli project from 1995 – 2010. The journey of the Mahaweli river which runs through North Central, North and East as well as North Western provinces fulfilling needs of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities is covered in ‘Mahaweli – the River of Reconciliation’.   
Water Management Specialist Dr. M. U. A. Tennakoon delivered the keynote address.   

The two books were presented to the President by the Chairman of Sri Lanka Foundation Sarath Kongahage and the chief editor K. Ariyatunga.   

MPs Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, P. Dayaratne, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Mahinda Amaraweera, Weerakumara Dissanayake, Shantha Bandara and several others who worked closely with the Mahaweli Project, Secretary to the President Udaya R. Seneviratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment Anura Dissanayake, several government officials, academics, artists and university students were among the large gathering at the launch.   

The construction of Wayamba canal that supplies water to the north west and the Upper Elahera canal that provides water to North and the Minipe canal have also been expedited