Lanka: Rs. 2,900-mn for water supply projects

Colombo: President Mahinda Rajapaksa has allocated Rs. 2,900 million for the on going drinking water supply projects through-out the country, Water Supply Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

The government has allocated Rs. 900 million for the water supply projects to be implemented in the Hambantota district.

Addressing the media at Water Supply Board auditorium at Sethsiripaya Minister Amaraweera said that more than hundred water supply schemes constructed at a cost of Rs. 5000 million will be handed over to the beneficiaries shortly.

Minister Amaraweera expressed confidence that by 2010 more than 95 per cent families in Sri Lanka would have been received drinking water facilities. The government was able to increase the percentage who were supplied drinking water facilities from 23 per cent to 35 per cent in 2004.

He said that not only Hambantota district but also Puttalam, Mannar, Moneragala and North Central Province are also taken in to consideration on par with Hambantota district as those districts are also facing drinking water shortages.

While handing over the completed roads for the use of the public, a road development project costing Rs. 90 billion will be inaugurated shortly in Hambantota district. The Minister said Randiri-Ella power generation project to be built at a cost of Rs. 135 million will also be commenced soon.

In addition Minister Amaraweera said that to mark his 17-year political life a massive community service project will be organised in Hambantota district from June 15 to July 31.

Accordingly Minister Amaraweera will provide clothing materieal for uniform to 30,000 school children, financial assistance to slum dwellers to construct permanent houses, financial assistance to disabled persons to start self-employment attempts and needed accessaries to pre school kids during the period between June-15 to July 31 in Hambanthota district.

Moves are also under-way to construct the Kirindi Oya water supply scheme at a cost of Rs. 2,050 million.

Special awareness campaigns will be conducted for schoolchildren to instruct them on ways and means of protecting water springs and to minimise water wastage, Minister Amaraweera added.