Viability of artificial rainmaking project questioned in Parliament

• JVP MP Dr. Nalanda Jayatissa queries viability of costly rainmaking exercise
• Queries Meteorology Department’s role in the project
• Also questions Department’s weather prediction abilities

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

The viability of the pilot project that was undertaken to create artificial rain was questioned by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) in Parliament yesterday.

“Helicopters were recently used to spread chemicals to create artificial rains. This is a costly exercise. Who took part in this meeting representing the Department of Meteorology to decide such a costly exercise? Was it a junior person? As far as I know, the former Director General has stated that only 7mm artificial rains can be created,” JVP MP Dr. Nalanda Jayatissa queried.

The MP raised the matter during the committee stage debate of Budget 2019.

He also raised concerns about the ability of the Department of Meteorology and the competence of the officers involved in accurate prediction of the weather.

The Government suspended the artificial rainmaking or cloud seeding program after one trail effort saying there were inadequate clouds as well as lack of the correct humidity levels to successfully carry out the program.