INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS TO STUDY VICTORIA DAM

Wasantha Bandara Palugaswewa, the Secretary to the State Ministry of Canals and Common Infrastructure Development in Settlements in Mahaweli Zones speaking to News 1st said the international committee of experts will be called in after the local experts conclude their research and investigations.

He said this measure was taken considering the recent tremors experienced in areas surrounding the Victoria Reservoir.

"There are only 07 or 08 dams in the world similar to the dam at the Victoria Reservoir and experts are called in from time to time to conduct the study," he said.

The international experts are to be called in next year, he said adding there is no threat to the dam of the Victoria Reservoir from the recent tremors.

Furthermore, the report of the committee appointed to probe the recent tremors experienced in areas surrounding the Victoria Reservoir will be handed over to the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment on Thursday (31).

A committee member speaking to News 1st said a discussion on the matter will take place in Kandy on Wednesday (30).

The 11-member committee of experts is chaired by the Chairman of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, Anura Walpola.

Other members of the committee are, Prof. Athula Senaratne, Major General S. Ranasinghe, Wasantha Ihalapitiya, Prof. Jagath Goonetileke, Prof. RK Perera, Dr. O.K. Dissanayake, Nalin de Silva, Dr. Gamini Jayatissa, Mahinda Seneviratne, and Nilmini Thaldena.

The committee is tasked with the aim of discovering the cause for the tremors.