Australia and World Vision in AU$ 3.8 mn partnership for sustainable development

Australia and World Vision are partnering in an AU$ 3.8 million water and sanitation programme for children and their communities in the Nuwara Eliya district. The partnership is in collaboration with Central and Local Governments, Plantation Management and Community based Organizations.

The most recently completed water and sanitation project was launched in Elgin Estate on Tuesday. It was attended by Ms Robyn Mudie, High Commissioner for Australia in Sri Lanka, Suresh Bartlett, National Director of World Vision Lanka and Dan Seevaratnam, CEO, Watawala Plantations.

The project costs LKR 20 million and would provide safe and clean drinking water and improved sanitation for 800 people, including nearly 400 women and 300 children. It would link two communities from the Upper and Lower Divisions of Elgin Estate, as they come together to complete maintenance work.

“We are pleased that the rural water supply systems have been designed and built to ensure safe drinking water for the estate families who have previously been susceptible to water-borne diseases. Access to clean water would have a significant impact on the community in particular, on estate women both at home and at work and would improve their quality of life,” said High Commissioner Mudie.

“A special impact of this project is not only to ensure sustainable water and sanitation services, but also the forging of relationships between isolated communities and those responsible for providing services,” said Suresh Bartlett, World Vision Lanka’s National Director. “Ensuring peace and fostering harmony amongst communities is a key focus for Australia. We are delighted to be able to partner with World Vision to make this a reality,” High Commissioner Mudie said. The project was part of the Rural Integrated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (RIWASH) programme, funded by the Australian Government (through its aid agency AusAID) and implemented by World Vision.

The RIWASH programme aims to provide water supply and sanitation facilities, common bathing places and storm water drainage systems to over 23,000 people, including 2,800 school children, who are scattered over a number of estates, schools and rural villages in the Ambagamuwa and Nuwara Eliya DS Divisions. To date, over 10,000 individuals have benefitted from improved water and sanitation facilities in the Ambagamuwa and Nuwara Eliya region.

The RIWASH programme would also engage the community, plantation management and local government officials to implement the Government of Sri Lanka’s Rural Water and Sanitation Supply Policy, further strengthening governance and community structures.

Nuwara Eliya is among the most disadvantaged districts in Sri Lanka, with significant levels of poverty and poor health statistics. Although home to abundant water sources, its water and sanitation access is the lowest in the country.