The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will give a 128 million US dollar loan for the greater Colombo water and wastewater management improvement investment program to assist achieve providing safe water and full sanitation coverage.

“The investment program will improve Colombo city dwellers’ quality of life and will cater to the increasing demand in the city for improved water and wastewater services,” said Sri Widowati, country director, Sri Lanka resident mission, ADB.

Colombo’s piped water supply system and piped sewerage system was built more than 100 years ago and no longer fully meets today’s needs.

The water system upgrade is expected to bring 24/7 water supply to Colombo city by reducing non- revenue water to less than 20 percent.

The project will also improve the sewer system in Colombo city and will support the government to construct a wastewater treatment plant for the Colombo city southern catchment.

ADB’s Multitranche Financing Facility (MFF) – totaling 300 million US dollars – will fund 20 percent of the 1.5 billion US dollar investment plan for water and sanitation in Greater Colombo.

The first loan of 84 million US dollars was made in 2012 and the second loan of 88 million US dollars in 2013.

This is the third and last phase of the MFF. This third phase will construct a new sewer system in un-served areas of Kirillapone.

The proposed wastewater treatment plant will improve effluent water quality of the Wellawatta sea outfall.

These works will be undertaken by the Colombo Municipal Council.

The third phase will also support the National Water Supply and Drainage Board to complete non-revenue water reduction program commenced under the previous phases.