Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar says approximately Rs. 36 billion has been invested to upgrade and expand the city’s sewerage network under the Greater Colombo Wastewater Management Improvement Investment Programme.
In a social media post, the Mayor said the programme is funded initially by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and is now supported by the Treasury and the European Investment Bank.
Among the major projects are the Rs. 8 billion Kirula and Narahenpita Sewerage Project, which will provide sewer connections to previously unserved areas, and the Rs. 7.5 billion Southern Rehabilitation Project to upgrade and rehabilitate ageing sewer lines in key parts of Colombo.
Balthazaar noted that much of Colombo’s sewerage network was built more than 120 years ago. While it continues to serve a large part of the city, some communities still lack access to sewer connections and sections of the infrastructure require urgent upgrades.
She acknowledged that construction work may cause temporary inconvenience but said the projects would deliver long-term benefits for public health, sanitation, the environment and Colombo’s future development. (Newswire)