COLOMBO, 14 September 2021, (TON): The Government and the World Bank recently signed a $40 million additional financing for the ongoing Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project (WASSIP), to increase access to the piped water services and improved sanitation.

This additional financing will expand water supply, sanitation, and hygiene services in seven districts, reaching more than one million people.

Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Sajith Atygalle virtually signed on behalf of the government and, World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka Faris Hadad-Zervos signed on behalf of the Bank.

The project aims to increase the coverage of piped water by constructing new urban, rural and estate water supply schemes and rehabilitating existing schemes to provide households with a continuous supply of safe water.

The project operates in Kegalle, Ratnapura, Moneragala, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. Under this additional financing, septage treatment plants are planned in two additional districts, Galle and Kurunegala.