Lanka attains MDG ahead of schedule

Disna MUDALIGE

Sri Lanka had achieved the United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on water and sanitation four years ahead of the targeted year, National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWS&DB) Chairman Karunasena Hettiarachchi told the Daily News yesterday.

He said that the country has reached 85 percent on sanitation coverage which was the MDG target for 2015. "With this achievement, Sri Lanka stands on top among South Asian countries regarding water and sanitation," Hettiarachchi said.

He said that the NWS&DB hopes to achieve 100 percent sanitation coverage by 2015. Hettiarachchi also said that the safe water supply is ensured for 80 percent of the community. This will be upgraded to cover 90 percent by 2015 and 100 percent by 2020.

Twenty seven foreign funded projects are being implemented to meet this target.

About Rs 30 billion has been allocated per year for these development projects. In addition, 3,600 community based water projects have been progressing in the island with the aim to cover eight percent of the population of the country.

The NWS&DB has placed prominent attention to supply sanitation and safe drinking water to Northern and Eastern provinces.

The current number of water supply connections in the Northern province is 6,785. This is expected to be increased to 12,035 by 2016.

The number of water supply connections in the Eastern province amounts to about 99,200.

This is expected to be increased upto 152,420 by 2016.