Courtesy News 1st

COLOMBO (News 1st): Former President Maithripala Sirisena has clarified his stance on the project to build a jogging track on the Polonnaruwa Parakrama Samudra tank bund which is currently under controversy.

In a statement, former President Maithripala Sirisena said that much care should be taken when embarking on any project on a vast reservoir such as the Parakrama Samudraya, a masterpiece of Sri Lankan irrigation technology.

The former President points out that it is reasonable for the farmers and the Maha Sangha to object such activities to be carried out without a scientific knowledge of irrigation technology.

He said that at the commencement of the project, the farmers and the Maha Sangha in the area should have been informed and a decision could have been taken to stop or go forward with the project in collaboration with the Maha Sangha.

Additionally, he also suggested that the project, which is currently being planned to begin at the western part of the reservoir, be halted and the area such as a footpath between the paddy fields beyond the eastern end of the Maha-wella in the Parakrama Samudra could be used for the relevant project.