Mar 04, Colombo: The Government of Japan has provided a grant of US$ 85,682 (approx. Rs. 16 million) through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) to Provide a Clean Water Supply System at Lahugala in the Mahaoya Divisional Secretariat, Ampara District.

Ambassador of Japan Akira Sugiyama and Dr. Jagath Seneviratne, President of the Green Cross Sri Lanka signed the grant contract on 3rd March 2021 at the Ambassador’s Residence in Colombo, the Embassy said in a statement.

The Green Cross Sri Lanka since its establishment in 2005 has made significant contributions to providing access to clean water and sanitation for communities and to ensuring the welfare and education of children and youth under the “water for life and peace” program.

A village located in the dry zone with a population of 1,500 in the Lahugala Grama Niladhari Division is hugely deficient of clean drinking water. For most of the residents in the hamlet, water is supplied once a week through a bowser which is to a large extent insufficient for satisfying the needs of the families.

Other water sources available are unsuited for drinking purposes since it is contaminated with agrochemicals which increase the risk of waterborne diseases.

To alleviate the sufferings of the local community, this grant will be utilized to construct filtering facilities, a water tank and pipelines to ensure the regular supply of clean water for all households in the rural village.