Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2016-10-11

Control of flood and environmental pollution in the Sainthamarthu Divisional Secretary's Division in Kalmunai

- The people living in the Sainthamarthu Divisional Secretary's Division, which is situated in the coastal belt of the Ampara District, are affected by the floods annually caused due to the overflow of the lagoon situated in the vicinity of the area. This situation has arisen due to lack of a proper draining network, the natuaral flow of water being obstructed due to various aquatic plants which are posing a threat to the natural ecosystem of the lagoon and the disposal of garbage in the lagoon by the people. Therefore, with a view to improving the natural beauty of the lagoon, developing the same and securing its sides from dumped garbage and protecting more than 10,000 people belonging to 2,700 families living in the vicinity of the lagoon from floods and erosion, the proposal made by Hon. Rauff Hakeem, the Minister of City Planning and Water Supply, to construct a retaining wall around the lagoon, at an estimated cost of Rs.162 million, was approved by the Cabinet.