The Director further said that the wall of the reservoir is made of 25 metre-high blocks which have water bars. A small leak has been observed in one of them in the last meter which is a normal phenomenon in certain conditions.“However, the supervision of this wall is still entrusted to the Chinese company. They supervise another year and three months. This leak will not harm the wall in any way. It’s common, but we recognize it and will work with the Chinese company. People should not be afraid,” he said.

Meanwhile, All Ceylon Farmers Congress National Organizer Namal Karunaratne said a team of foreign experts should be summoned immediately to inspect the water leak in the main dam and submit a report on remedial measures.Addressing a press conference in Dambulla, Karunaratne said construction work of the reservoir had been dogged by various problems and issues at the inception. The water mass in the reservoir was almost five times bigger than that of Parakrama Samudraya.

“The issue should be studied by a foreign team of experts,” he said.Irrigation and Rural Development State Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena when contacted by the Daily News said he was awaiting an official report on the matter.“That’s what I heard but so far I have not been officially informed about this matter. I have to verify that and let you know,” he said.