Colombo, Sept. 20 -- Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe slammed the Irrigation Department for acting outside government policy by issuing demolition notices on settlements within tank reserves.

Raising the issue at the Anuradhapura District Coordination Committee meeting on Friday (19), the Minister charged that officials had ignored a Cabinet decision to appoint a review committee and merely mark reserve boundaries.

"Despite clear instructions, they have gone ahead with demolition notices. Who authorized this? The government never approved such action," Samarasinghe said, warning that the move risked fueling public anger against the administration.

He also questioned why boundaries were never marked when illegal hotels sprang up, urging a...