Jan 31, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government will obtain a Rs, 7.4 billion (Japanese Yen 5.166 billion) from Japan through the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) to fund a project to supply safe drinking water to the people living in Anuradhapura North area.

The project will construct a Water Supply Scheme to provide safe drinking water initially for the people Medawchchiya and Rambewa Divisional Secretariat divisions in the Anuradhapura District. Later the funds will be used to implement the design stage of the Wahalkada Water Supply Scheme.

The government says 85 percent of the population living in rural areas of Anuradhapura District depends on the sources of unsafe ground water due to lack of enough drinking water supply facilities.

The cabinet of ministers has approved the proposal put forward by President to obtain the loan.