04/03/2026
๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐พ๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐ท๐๐๐-๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐พ๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐
On February 5, 2026, a high-level working meeting on rural drinking water safety and post-cyclone water quality risks was convened by the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply of Sri Lanka. The meeting was chaired by Hon. Dr. Susil Ranasinghe, Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, with Eng. L. Kumudu Lal Bogahawatta, Secretary to the Ministry, in attendance. Senior officials from the Department of National Community Water Supply (DNCWS), the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB), and experts from the University of Peradeniya and Chinese Academy of Sciences participated alongside the delegation from the ChinaโSri Lanka Joint Research and Demonstration Centre for Water Technology (JRDC).
In the context of recent flooding, Hon. Minister Ranasinghe emphasized that rural drinking water safety is a matter of public security requiring systematic and coordinated interventions, including the formulation of a Master Plan for rural drinking water safety. Prof. Yuansong Wei presented Chinaโs experience in rural drinking water governance, highlighting source protection strategies, R&D for technology integration and innovation, and institutional frameworks combining master planning, regulation, financing, and supervision. JRDC briefly introduced its analytical capacity and ISO accreditation progress, positioning itself as a key technical support platform for rapid post-flood well assessment.
Participants agreed to advance a structured risk assessment approach, develop a Master Plan for rural drinking water safety and strengthen long-term ChinaโSri Lanka cooperation in rural drinking water management.
