The Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply has launched a special programme to protect the Kelani River, the main source of drinking water for an estimated 8 million people across the Colombo, Gampaha, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya districts.
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) currently draws water from 27 locations along the Kelani River, from Nuwara Eliya to Ambatale, to supply drinking water to around two million families. The river also serves as a key water source for several industries.
However, authorities have identified growing threats to the river’s water quality due to the operation of around 6,000 industries within the Kelani River basin, as well as human activities in surrounding areas. Officials warned that without timely and coordinated intervention, the quality of drinking water and the river’s ecosystem could face significant challenges over the next five years.
The programme, led by Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Susil Ranasinghe, aims to reduce water pollution and safeguard the river through coordinated action by multiple agencies.
The initiative will be implemented with the participation of the NWSDB, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), the Ministry of Industries and local authorities within the Kelani River basin.
An inaugural discussion on the programme was held in Parliament on Thursday (09), where officials focused on protecting the river’s water quality, improving industrial and urban waste management, strengthening legal enforcement and establishing a long-term monitoring mechanism. (Newswire)