Chamal Rajapaksa, one of the oldest MPs in the present parliament, has charged incumbent ministers of being ignorant of the history of tradition to leading to the prevailing issues.
He said farmers were in peril due to the failure of those in power to identify national priorities and act accordingly.
Recalling history, Rajapaksa said C.P. Silva, who was instrumental in building the Udawalawa reservoir, had given written instructions on how to act in a contingency.
In the event of Ridiyagama or Chandrikawewa drying out, an upper reservoir should essentially supply water.
Dr. S.A. Wickramasinghe said all canals should be laid with concrete, since the sandy bed of the Udawalawa reservoir was highly vaporizing.
The SLPP MP said the issue needs to be considered in the long term.
Nothing is taking place on priority basis, he said, urging the ministers to know the history to resolve issues speedily.
