Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2011-09-14

The World Bank Grant Funded Project for Increasing Household Sewerage Connections and Off-Network Sanitary Solutions in Greater Colombo

- the objective of this project is to increase the number of sewerage connections to low income households in Dehiwala, Ratmalana, Moratuwa, Kolonnawa, Ja-Ela and Ekala areas. The World Bank has agreed to increase their financial contribution for this project. The project will benefit 15407 poor households who currently rely on unsanitary pit latrines, non-functioning septic tanks or have no sanitary facilities. The total cost of the project will be US $9.96 million (approximately Rs.1096 million) consisting of World Bank Grant of 5.08 million and the balance from Domestic Funds. The proposal made by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Water Supply and Drainage, to proceed with the project and to include it in the Public Investment Programme 2011 - 2015, was approved by the Cabinet.