The government yesterday decided to tighten security at countrywide water distribution units as a precautionary measure against sabotage or acts of terrorism.

The army and police together with the security division of the Water Supply and Drainage Board would enhance the safety measures in the main waterways including the Maheweli and Kelani watercourse, Water Supply Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. “These measures have been taken to protect our citizens from the potential dangers of the LTTE. The LTTE will not step back if it can harm our people. First it was the Kalanitissa Power   plant; next it could be our water,” he said. The Minister said the possibility of poisoning the water was one of the main concerns of the board, though the report circulated last month about the LTTE poisoning our rivers proved to be a false alarm. However this could become a reality if the people were not cautious about their surroundings, the Minister said. He said that all precautionary measures were now taken and if people contributed towards this safety scheme a safe future could be ensured.