ADB funds $ 60 m to boost local authorities’ services

ADB Sri Lanka Resident Mission Country Director Sri Widowati and Ministry of Finance Secretary to the Treasury R.H.S. Samarathunga signing the loan agreement

The Sri Lankan Government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $ 60 million loan agreement on 2 November as additional financing to the ongoing Local Government Enhancement Sector Project to improve the basic infrastructure and services provided by local authorities. 

The $ 60 million is being provided to the Government as a loan from the Asian Development Fund. In addition to the supply of water, other local infrastructure and basic services and capacity development of selected local authorities will be financed through this loan. 

ADB Sri Lanka Resident Mission Country Director Sri Widowati signed the loan on behalf of ADB while Ministry of Finance, Secretary to the Treasury, R.H.S. Samarathunga, signed for the Government. 

More than 75% of this additional financing loan will support development and expansion of water supply systems mostly run by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, in areas affected by the Chronic Kidney Disease in the Central, North Central, North Western and Uva provinces, to provide a continuous supply of safe drinking water. Facilities such as raw water intakes, water treatment plants, overhead tanks and transmission and distribution networks leading to household connections are eligible for financing. 

About 30 schemes will be developed or expanded and will be implemented by the respective provincial councils with technical input and supervision from NWSDB.