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Participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for Phase II of the Anuradhapura North Water Supply Project this morning (10). Pleased to mark the commencement of the second phase of this project, which aims to provide clean and safe drinking water to 67,000 families in the Divisional Secretariat areas of Padaviya, Kebithigollewa, Horowpothana and Kahatagasdigiliya in the Anuradhapura District. It has been established that the lack of access to safe drinking water has been a major contributing factor to the spread of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) of unknown etiology in these areas since the 1990s. Therefore, I emphasized that this project is not merely an infrastructure development initiative, but one that safeguards the people's fundamental right to life. I expressed my sincere appreciation to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for its invaluable support, as well as to the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, which are implementing the project. I also expressed my confidence that all those involved would remain committed to completing the project within the stipulated timeframe so that its benefits could be delivered to the people without delay. Although water supply projects have been implemented throughout our history, I pointed out that only around 60 percent of the population — approximately 4.2 to 4.3 million families — currently has access to safe drinking water. I also noted that my government plans to launch 22 drinking water supply projects next year at a cost of Rs. 20 billion, benefiting around one million people. I further stressed that improving the quality of life, social standing and dignity of the farming community is a key objective of the present government. In this regard, I highlighted several measures implemented within a short period, including doubling the fertilizer subsidy, providing the highest compensation in the country's history for agricultural lands damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, allocating the largest-ever funding for paddy procurement, and resuming major irrigation projects to ensure an adequate water supply for cultivation.
Notes
Participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for Phase II of the Anuradhapura North Water Supply Project this morning (10). Pleased to mark the commencement of the second phase of this project, which aims to provide clean and safe drinking water to 67,000 families in the Divisional Secretariat areas of Padaviya, Kebithigollewa, Horowpothana and Kahatagasdigiliya in the Anuradhapura District. It has been established that the lack of access to safe drinking water has been a major contributing factor to the spread of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) of unknown aetiology in these areas since the 1990s. Therefore, I emphasised that this project is not merely an infrastructure development initiative, but one that safeguards the people's fundamental right to life. I expressed my sincere appreciation to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for its invaluable support, as well as to the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, which are implementing the project. I also expressed my confidence that all those involved would remain committed to completing the project within the stipulated timeframe so that its benefits could be delivered to the people without delay. Although water supply projects have been implemented throughout our history, I pointed out that only around 60 per cent of the population — approximately 4.2 to 4.3 million families — currently has access to safe drinking water. I also noted that my Government plans to launch 22 drinking water supply projects next year at a cost of Rs. 20 billion, benefiting around one million people. I further stressed that improving the quality of life, social standing and dignity of the farming community is a key objective of the present Government. In this regard, I highlighted several measures implemented within a short period, including doubling the fertiliser subsidy, providing the highest compensation in the country's history for agricultural lands damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, allocating the largest-ever funding for paddy procurement, and resuming major irrigation projects to ensure an adequate water supply for cultivation.