It is pathetic to witness these innocent, poor people being forced to suffer for a man made, unforgivable error of constructing a dam to divert water to Uva Wellasa. The construction of the water tunnel was the sole responsibility of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who carried it out without a feasible study. It is said, the project was implemented purely on politically motivated decisions disregarding the advice of eminent engineers who condemned it. The avowed purpose of this gigantic Project was to divert water to the Hambantota area which is almost withered and had to be drenched, trapping the people of Bandarawela by the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to boost his ego and popularity.
The biggest causality of Uma Oya is not the eviction of the victims of the area but the depletion of the pristine glory of the environment by the construction of the 20 KM long tunnel and its associated works, which has cost an immense sum. The tunneling has caused great damage to the mountainous landscape and severely affected the water arums and vibrated the foundations of buildings and houses in the area. Since the advent of the Sirisena - Wickremesinghe government, the residents of Bandarawela have held massive protests against the project. But, the people of the area had not protested during the Rajapaksa era, may be due to the fear of the white van phenomenon.
However, President Maithripala Sirisena has not concealed the serious impact of this vitiated project, and justified the claims of the victims and promised to find a solution to them, which is most welcome and appreciative.
I hope the President appoints a Presidential Commission to inquire into the failed projects of the previous regime and reveal to the public the colossal damage done to the country by the perpetrators and recover the damage from them.
Z.A.M Shukoor
Aranayaka