Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa said today that no irrigation projects would be implemented within the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and that it has only been planned to construct two tanks in the vicinity of the Reserve. The Minister said that it was planned to construct two tanks in the vicinity of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve based on a proposal made by the Irrigation Department several years ago. He said that some media outlets are spreading false reports that two tanks are planned to be built in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve. “The media should find out correct information and report on what is being done without provoking the public,” he said. The Minister was responding to a question raised by Parliamentarian Buddhika Pathirana in Parliament today (23). The Minister said that the Irrigation Department had a plan to divert water from the Kalu, Gin and Nilwala Rivers to the North East about 90 years ago but no government had implemented the project. The Minister said that a large number of people in these areas are suffering from water scarcity and the one of the purposes of this project is to prevent floods as well. Meanwhile, the Minister explained that the UNESCO has also been requested to conduct a study on this project and whether it will cause any harm to the forest reserve.