The first phase of the Ruwanwella Water Supply Project was inaugurated on 29th May at the Ruwanwella Water Treatment Plant premises under the patronage of Prime Minister Harini Amarasooriya and Korean Ambassador Myeon Lee.
This project was initiated in the Kegalle District, in the long-term need for a water supply scheme in the Ruwanwella, Bulathkohupitiya and Yatiyanthota Divisional Secretariat Divisions, considering the need to provide qualitative and quantitative solutions to the drinking water problem that is essential for the homes, public and private institutions, factories, schools, hospitals, tourist hotels and daily living needs of this area.
To avoid the risk of flooding, the people around Ruwanwella have been tempted to establish settlements near the mountain peaks. Due to this reason, a situation has arisen in which the water in the shallow wells around the settlements dries up even during a short period of no rain. The public has also had to face health problems due to the flooding of the existing shallow wells in the settlements located in the lowlands.
The construction of a 4000 cubic meter per day water treatment plant under this project was started in 2019 and due to the economic downturn, this project was divided into Phases 1 and 2. The construction of Phase 1 has already been completed. The pipe laying and construction work of Phase 2 is already underway and is scheduled to be completed by 2028.
This project is a development project implemented by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board with financial assistance from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund affiliated to the Republic of Korea and the Government of Sri Lanka.
The construction of Phase 1 has been carried out by the Korean Colon Global Corporation, a private company, under the guidance of the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing and the supervision of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board.
The cost to complete Phase 1 is US$ 25.5 million. The loan fund of the Korean Exim Bank is 18.45 million and the Sri Lankan Government funds are 7.05 million USD.
The primary objectives of initiating this water supply project are to improve public health by improving the sanitation facilities of the people in the area, to improve the living standards of the people, to create favorable infrastructure facilities for various industries including tourism, to provide uninterrupted services to consumers, and to minimize the amount of unaccounted water.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Minister of Environment Dhammika Patabendi, Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing Anura Karunathilaka, Kegalle District Political Authority, Kegalle District Secretary Jagath Herath, officials of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, officials of the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, government officials, representatives of the Republic of Korea, beneficiaries of the water supply project and a group of others.
