The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation UNESCO has rejected reservoir construction projects within the Sinharaja rainforest as it is a natural world heritage site.

UNESCO Secretary General for Sri Lanka Dr. Punchinilame Meegaswatte states that the irrigation authorities and Minister Chamal Rajapaksa accepted decision about the project.

Before the irrigation department proposed to construct a reservoir inside the Sinharaja rain forest in a idea with a divert water to the south-eastern parts of Sri Lanka for drinking and irrigation purposes.

Sri Lanka has only two natural heritage sites. (Sinharaja and the central highlands) A landmass of five hectares within the Sinharaja forest will be damaged if the reservoir is built.