A loss exceeding Rs. 3400 million due to mismanagement of Iranamadu reservoir floods

COLOMBO (News 1st):- It has been revealed that the total cost of the damage caused by flooding near the Iranamadu reservoir on December 21, 2018, had exceeded over Rs. 3400 million. This was revealed following an investigation conducted on the disaster situation in the Iranamadu reservoir. Following an investigation that was launched based on the request of the Governor of the Northern Province, the findings have indicated a loss of Rs.64.25 million to the government due to the disaster. A copy of the report of the inquiry has been handed over to the Governor of the Northern Province and it states that the loss incurred to the general public following the disaster in Iranamadu is Rs. 3,342.99 million. The report accuses a Director of Irrigation in the Northern Province, a Deputy Director of Irrigation in Kilinochchi and an Engineer linked to the irrigation system in Kilinochchi. They have been accused of failing to manage the disaster situation in a proper manner. The report cites that the night before the flooding, the technological officer in charge of the activities at the reservoir was not present. It further notes that the officer had not obtained leave in the right manner. Based on the allocations of the Asian Development Bank, a cost of Rs. 2198 mn had been allocated for development activities in the Iranamadu reservoir.