ADB provides US $ 13.5m for water supply in Polonnaruwa

AGREEMENT : The Government of Sri Lanka and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a supplementary loan agreement for US $ 13.5m (Approximately Rs. 1,480 million) to meet the additional funding requirement for completion of the Secondary Towns and Rural Community-Based Water Supply & Sanitation Project.

The project is aimed at providing drinking water and sanitation facilities for the people in the urban areas of Batticaloa ,Muttur, Polonnaruwa, Hambantota and the rural areas in the North Central and Batticaloa in North-Eastern Provinces.

The additional funding of US $ 13.5 million will be used for the implementation of project activities in the urban areas of Polonnaruwa district.

Under this component, 85,000 people in urban areas will gain access to piped water supplies and 3,000 people will have access to improved sanitation facilities and better understanding of hygiene. The project is expected to be completed by 2009.

The project is being implemented through the National Water Supply and Drainage Board under the supervision of Ministry of Water Supply & Drainage.

Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Dr. P.B. Jayasundera signed the loan agreement on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka while Country Director, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Resident Mission in Colombo, Mr. Richard W.A. Vokes signed on behalf of the ADB.