A respected irrigation director who defended public land has been suddenly removed, raising suspicions of political pressure and a cover-up.
Anuradhapura District Irrigation Director Jayantha de Silva, the officer who led the boundary-marking of major irrigation reserves including the Nuwara Wewa Tank, has been transferred urgently, sparking outrage among irrigation workers, environmentalists and local residents. The transfer comes less than a year after he assumed duties, during which time he earned a strong reputation for transparency, commitment and public service.
Officials within the Irrigation Department claim the director was removed soon after he began strictly marking the legal boundaries of tank reserves, preventing illegal land encroachments and unauthorized constructions. Many employees believe the sudden transfer is linked to political pressure, especially since the marked reserve area includes land allegedly belonging to Anuradhapura District MP P. D. N. K. Palihena.
The director also took part in discussions with MPs and ministers at the Anuradhapura District Coordination Committee, directly defending protected reservoir lands. Former Deputy Minister of Irrigation Dr. Susil Ranasinghe recently confirmed that more than 350 appeals have already been filed against removal orders issued for illegal constructions inside the Nuwara Wewa reservoir reserve.
Internal sources say the Irrigation Department has now ordered officials not to take further action until the government makes a final decision on the disputed land. This has intensified public concern, as the transfer is seen as an attempt to stall enforcement and silence an officer who refused to yield to political influence.
Irrigation workers, civil activists and local communities insist that the removal of an officer who protected public reservoirs sends a dangerous message, undermining both environmental protection and public trust. Many now fear that the Nuwara Wewa reserve land, historically protected for centuries as part of Anuradhapura’s ancient hydraulic civilization, may face rapid encroachment.
