Sri Lanka has bought a 64.9 million US dollar water supply system from Tetra Tech, a California based firm, with financing from the Export-Import Bank of United States.
The 12-year credit, the first since 2008, will finance a water supply system for the Badulla, Haliela and Ella areas on Sri Lanka, the US Ex-im bank said in a statement.
“Not only does this transaction stimulate US job creation, but it also contributes directly to the quality of life in Sri Lanka,” said Ex-Im Bank chairman Fred P Hochberg. “This project will bring potable water to thousands of those who need it, and that is a success.”
The project involves new treatment plants, integrating them will rehabilitated ones, building storage tanks, pumping stations, a new dam and reservoir, 50 kilometres of transmission and 100 kilometres of distribution pipeline.
“This is the first full-scale, design-build water-supply project that Ex-Im Bank has financed for an international client,” said Tetra Tech chairman Dan Batrack.
“Tetra Tech is proud to support the government of Sri Lanka in this important effort to bring safe drinking water to its people.
“This transaction supports high-end technical jobs in the United States and allows us to bring our best water services where they are needed most.”
Sri Lanka has begun to rely more on Exim bank credit for infrastructure in recent years with the China leading the tables, while the US has mostly given Sri Lanka outright grants rather than credit.
According to data released in Sri Lanka’s parliament, the US has given US$225 million in grants that need not be paid back and only US$33 million in credit during the past 15 years.
China has given US$2.9 billion in credits and US$105.3 million in grants.
US has been helping with rehabilitation efforts in former war-torn areas and USAID, the country’s aid agency, has also been helping private firms set up shop and form links with farmers and others.
