CWC requests Japan to abandon funding Kotmale project

[TamilNet, Monday, 15 September 2003, 03:01 GMT]
The Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), a key constituent of the United National Front (UNF) government Sunday made an appeal to the Japanese peace special envoy Mr.Yasushi Akashi to withdraw funding for the controversial Upper Kotmale electricity project to which the Cabinet had given approval despite opposition by the CWC, media sources said.

A CWC delegation led by its leader and Minister in the UNF government Mr.Arumugam Thondaman met Mr. Akashi at the official residence of the Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe.

Mr.Wickremasinghe, his special advisor Mr.Bradman Weerakoon, Minister Mr.Milinda Morogoda, CWC Vice President and parliamentarian Mr.R.Yogarajan, and several leading members of the CWC associated with Mr Thondaman were present at the discussions, sources said.

The CWC delegation brought to the notice of Mr. Akashi the negative impacts of Upper Kotmale electricity project on the eco-system of the hill region and onsocial and economic spheres of the hill country Tamils especially in the upper Kotmale region.

The CWC delegation pointed out to Mr. Akashi that lands and houses belonging to thousands of hill country Tamils living in the area for several years would go under the water if the Kotmale dam was constructed under the proposed Upper Kotmale Electricity project.

The CWC delegation requested Mr. Akashi to convince the Japanese government to take positive steps to withdraw the funding, sources said

Mr. Akashi assured the CWC delegation that he would bring this matter to the consideration of the Japanese government, sources said.

The CWC delegation handed a memorandum to Mr. Akashi describing the potential damages to social and economic lives of hill country Tamils if the proposed Upper Kotmale Electricity Project is implemented. Thousands of hill country Tamils would be displaced and would become landless if the Kotmale project is implemented, memorandum stated.

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