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| Friday, 13 June 2003 |
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"Supply of drinking water and sanitation facilities has become a global issue today. The quantity of usable fresh water available in the world is limited. As a result of various activities by the mankind, this quantity is also getting depleted gradually. Due to this, the attention of the world is being increasingly focused on the issue of drinking water," Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Plantation Infrastructure W. D. Ailapperuma said at the workshop of the Second Community Water Supply and Sanitation Project (2nd CWSSP) held at Earls Regency Hotel, Kandy recently. This workshop organised by the 2nd CWSSP and the Ministry of Housing and Plantation Infrastructure. Provincial members, district secretaries, provincial secretaries, government officials and NGO members who are in the project areas participated in this conference. The World Bank has agreed to provide US $ 40 Million (approximately Rupees 4,000 Million) for this project and this will be implemented in rural community estates and small towns in North Western, Central, North and Eastern provinces. This project will commence on July 1 and continue till June 30, 2009. Total beneficiary families of this project are 1,274,000. Nearly 1000 Grama Niladari Divisions are planned to cover under this project. "Out of the total population of Sri Lanka, more than 75% live in rural areas. More than half of the rural population does not receive safe and adequate drinking water and basic sanitation at present. Unlike in the cities and urban areas, the provision of drinking water to the rural areas is a complicated matter. The houses are located in a dispersed manner. The responsible organisations are located far away. As a result, the provision of services, operation and maintenance of them are much more difficult," Ailapperuma said. "The Government and our Ministry have formulate policies and guidance on both rural and urban water supply in the past. The National Policy for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Sector, was recently formulated. We are in the process of formulating a few more policies for water supply sector reforms," the Ministry Secretary said. The World Bank has assisted a similar project previously, covering the districts of Badulla, Ratnapura and Matara. This project, which was implemented from 1992 to 1998 has served nearly one million people. Under this project 847 small-scale water supply projects were completed and about 69000 latrines were provided. World Bank, in an evaluation has ranked this project as the "Best" among 200 similar projects funded by the World Bank. Advisor to the Prime Minister on sustainable Development K. H. J. Wijedasa made the key-note address of this workshop. |
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