Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2016-01-27

Obtaining financial assistance for the implementation of the Kelani right bank water supply Project Phase II

- The Kelani right bank water treatment plant provides water to the urban areas north of Colombo , with a full capacity level of 180,000 m3. - Due to the rapid development of this area at present, the location of the Airport, the Export-processing zones in Biyagama and Katunayake and the buildings of the defence forces, the current demand for water supply has increased. . Therefore, the proposal made by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, the Minister of Finance, to enter into an agreement with the Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank of France, to obtain a buyer's credit facility of around Euro 96 million, with a view to increasing the capacity of the said water treatment plant by constructing a new water treatment plant of 180,000 m3, and providing infrastructure facilities including the laying of main pipelines distributing treated water and a watertransmission line of 25 km, the construction of the Wee Oya Reservoir and the supply and installation of inflatable rubber balloons as a salinity barrier, was approved by the Cabinet.