Kandy to receive new waste water management system via JICA loan

A waste water treatment plant construction will be commenced in Kandy ceremonially today, 19 February, with the participation of Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem, Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka office Kiyoshi Amada, Governor of Central Province Surangani Ellawala, Chief Minister of Central Province Sarath Ekanayake and Mayor of KMC Sena Dissanayake. Senior officials of the Ministry and National Water Supply and Drainage Board will also attend the event.

The old capital of Sri Lanka receives tourists from all over the country and abroad. As a World Heritage site and being second largest city of Sri Lanka, Kandy is famous for its beauty. Behind the beauty of the city, hidden are polluted canals and rivers, as Kandy City does not have a modern sewerage system. 

The rate of deteriorating quality of water in rivers and the lake has increased with the increase of population, their activities, and use of water. Presently the city could accommodate 110,000 permanent residents while receiving 150,000 commuters daily and therefore Waste Water Management System is a long-pending requirement and now become an urgent need. 

The proposed waste water management system aims to tackle these issues altogether. As sewerage treatment plant is installed, it is expected to improve water quality of the Mahaweli River, one of the major water sources in the country. Improvement of its water quality in upper stream will have positive impact for downstream areas. 

The project is being managed by National Water Supply and Drainage Board. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is financing for the project under highly concessional loan amounting Yen 14,087 million (equivalent Rs. 16,900 million). 

The proposed waste water treatment plant under Package-1 of the project with a capacity of 14,000m3/day utilises the propeller-type Oxidation Ditch (OD) system which enables the efficient treatment of sewage through the high mixture with oxygen promoted by submersible propellers and air diffusers in the aeration tank. 

Japanese company JFE Engineering Corporation, with unparalleled experience in Japan providing facilities with this technology, actively proposed this system to the Sri Lankan Government in order to help for reducing plant operation costs, which will be borne by the client after construction.

The project will also provide improved sanitation in densely populated and low income areas in Kandy, through installment of in-house sanitation facility, and refurbishing public facilities. Introduction of improved sanitation will improve the sanitary environment of the community and improve health conditions of the residents. 

JICA continuously support the Sri Lankan Government in the management of its sewerage problem. At the moment, a team of Japanese experts is working with the National Water Supply and Drainage Board to prepare an island-wide master plan for the sewerage sector in Sri Lanka, said Kiyoshi Amada, Chief Representative, JICA Sri Lanka. 

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is the executing agency of Japan’s Bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA). JICA, the world biggest bilateral aid agency, works in over 150 countries and regions. In accordance with its vision of “Inclusive and Dynamic Development,” JICA supports the resolution of development issues in developing countries. 

In Sri Lanka, Japan has been providing financial and technical assistance since 1954 and is one of the biggest donor to the country. On behalf of the people and the Government of Japan, JICA contributes to improve the lives of people in Sri Lanka.