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Chinese company seeks Archaeology Department approval

30 Jun 2021

  • Letter under review, approval may come with conditions

  • Camo-clad Chinese worker’s clothing not Chinese Army’s: Keheliya

  • Army/CID probe into attire concluded 

By Pamodi Waravita   The company involved in the Chinese Joint Venture (JV) to clean the country’s irrigation tanks has sought permission from the Archaeology Department on 28 June, following allegations that the first phase of the project at the Tissa/Tissamaharama Wewa was done without prior permission from the Department.  The controversial project, which was launched earlier this month, is currently on hold following concerns raised by the Archaeology Department.  The Morning learnt that a letter requesting permission has been received by the Department’s offices in Galle and that the Department is currently reviewing the request. It is learnt that permission may be given for the project, to proceed subject to a number of strict conditions.  At the time the venture was launched, the Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa told the media that when the water from the Uma Oya project is released, it is his Ministry’s responsibility to ensure it does not reach the sea and therefore the clean-up of dredged sediment at the Tissa Wewa is needed.  Government sources told The Morning that the clean-up at the Tissa Wewa using special machinery is done as a pilot project, to test the success of this particular clean-up technique.  According to sources, the cleaning of sediment in the Tissa Wewa is needed and the JV with the Chinese company involves a clean-up of an area of approximately 100 acres.  “If that kind of clean up is done using normal techniques, it would require the Tank to be drained, which would affect the farming cycles. Therefore, in order to combat this issue, the company would be employing special machinery to clean the Tank without draining it,” the sources added.  It is also learnt that the pilot project was due to be launched in Kurunegala, although it was later moved to the Tissa Wewa in February of this year.  Meanwhile, another controversy surrounding the project was that a worker wearing clothes allegedly similar to that of the Chinese military was seen near the Tissa Wewa. Responding to these concerns at the Cabinet media briefing held yesterday (29), Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said that following an investigation by the Army and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), they have clearly stated that this alleged piece of clothing can be worn in the country. “We are not silent or cowardly on the matter. There is a set of laws in the country that can be accessed if the Antiquities Ordinance has been violated. The Army and the CID have done a complete investigation into the matter about the uniform. There are workers of security companies in these work sites. As far as we know, they are not from the Chinese Army,” said Rambukwella.  Tissa Wewa, part of the country’s famous irrigation system, is one of the oldest reservoirs built during the 3rd Century Before Christ by King Devanampiyatissa.


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