Rajanganaya Unified Farmer’s Association President Nihal Wanniarachchi had been arrested by the Police yesterday over the unrest in the Thambuttegama town on Wednesday. A tense situation prevailed in the Thambuttegama town as police fired teargas and water cannons to disperse a group of protesters who were blocking the Kurunegala- Anuradhapura main road and pelting stones at the Thambuttegama Police Station on Wednesday.
The protest had been reportedly organised by Wanniarachchi’s organisation over a drinking water project in the area.
Meanwhile, Anuradhapura District Secretary R.M.Wanninayake told journalists yesterday that the Rajanganaya drinking water project has been temporarily halted.
Wanninayake said the farmers have been misled and there was no basis to the fears expressed by them that the drinking water project, will adversely affect their farming activities because the water is taken from the Rajanganaya tank.
Wanninayake stressed that the water released for cultivations will not be affected due to the drinking water project.
The Government Agent said the project had been approved by the Cabinet as far back as 2011 and it was been done with the support of the Water Supply and Drainage Board and the Irrigation Department to supply drinking water to people in and around Thambuttegama town.
The police on Wednesday arrested nearly 60 people for disobeying a court order and protesting.