No water scarcity

Water is life. There is no alternative for water. As such, the Government has planned to preserve the water resource for future generations by ensuring an uninterrupted supply of drinking water and sanitation facilities for people, Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said.

The Minister said this when he inaugurated work on the Kolonnawa Water Supply Promotion Project coming under the Greater Colombo Water Supply Rehabilitation Project at Gothatuwa last Sunday.

The Greater Colombo Project costing Rs 5,000 million is implemented by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board with the assistance of the Water Supply and Drainage Ministry and the Japan International Co-operation Agency.

Minister Gunawardena said time will come in the near future when people all over the world will crave for water. People in Sri Lanka will not have to do so as they would have abundant supplies due to the pragmatic policies adopted by the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government.

He said the new project once completed would benefit 50,000 people in 12,500 households. He also thanked the political authority of the area for extending all assistance towards the project.

Japanese Ambassador Kunio Thakahashi said the Japanese Government was always prepared to assist Sri Lanka’s development efforts in furtherance of the long-standing mutual friendship and co-operation between the two countries.

Colombo District Parliamentarian Duminda Silva and Kotikawatta Mulleriyawa Predeshiya Sabha Chairman Prasanna Solangarachchi also spoke. Disaster Relief Minister AHM Fowzie, AHM Azwer, MP and several other local council and Provincial Council members were also present.