4.4. Water issue in Bandarawela The purpose of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project is to add 120 MW to the generation system with 230 GWh annually to the National Power Grid. 4500 hectares of land is to be developed while 1500 hectares of developed land will be further developed. The project is implemented by the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Management in coordination with the Ministry of Power and Energy and Ceylon Electricity Board. UOMDP began on 20 July 2008 and later, the Preliminary Feasibility study Report was done by MahabGhodss Consulting Engineering Company) and the tree volume Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) by University of Sri Jayawardenapura. The Central Environmental Authority acted as the project approving agency. However, the project started construction activities even before obtaining environmental clearance. In 1991, the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau prepared the initial Uma Oya proposal and it was submitted to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for financial assistance but ADB rejected it due to a violation of water rights of the people trans basin water diversion. On 26th December 2014, the villages of Heeloya and Palleperuva in Ella Divisional Secretariat and Makulella, Egodagama and Weheragalathenna in the Bandarawela Divisional Secretariat observed cracks in their houses and decreasing ground water level of the area. Media reported a leak pouring out 250 liters of water per second into the underground tunnels system of UOMDP. Villagers of above mentioned areas held a protest in Bandarawela town on 26 th December 2014 against UOMDP. They have formed an Organization called ‘Asarthaka Uma Oya Piyapruthiyen Pidawata Path Janatha Ekamutuwa’ and also a Facebook page with the same name. After the protest of the local people in Bandarawela, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka decided to intervene. First, the Commission called reports from relevant authorities such as Bandarawela Municipal Council, Bandarawela Pradeshiya Sabha, Ella Pradeshiya Sabha, Bandarawela Divisional Secretariat, Ella Divisional Secretariat, Disaster Management Centre, Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, National Building Research 35