Sri Lanka’s former war zones in the north of the island will get a two million dollar grant from Japan and the Asian Development Bank to provide safe water and sanitation for rural people.
ADB says nearly 60 percent of the northern rural population lacks access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
“In the 1,400 villages on the Jaffna Peninsula, just 13 water supply schemes exist, providing only around one hour of water a day,” the ADB said.
“Chronic illness from drinking contaminated water is a serious concern, with gastrointestinal diseases causing over 8 percent of deaths in Jaffna District in 2008.”
The ADB said the money will be used to provide safe and reliable water and sanitation for people in Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts. A small Tamil community on Delft Island, off the coast from Jaffna City will also benefit from the project.
Sri Lanka’s government will provide 261,000 dollars, in-kind community contributions are estimated at 157,000 dollars. The project is expected to be completed in 2013.
A 30-year war ended in the area in May 2009. ADB said the new grant will support larger on-going ADB funded projects to give water to the north.
The grant will give water to 1,900 poor households while 5,000 households will get low cost sanitation systems and 200 people will be trained in the design, construction, operation and maintenance.
About 1,000 people will be involved in cash-for-work programs.
