PM to open new Kadana water treatment plant built with Japanese support

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will ceremonially open the water treatment plant in Kadana, Horana constructed under the Kalu Ganga Water Supply Project Phase I Stage II on January 5, 2017, in the presence of Koji Yagi, on behalf of the Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka. 
Rauff Hakeem, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply, Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, State Minister of City Planning and Water Supply, Palitha Kumara Thewarapperuma, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Wayaba Development and Cultural Affairs, Ajith P. Perera, Deputy Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, members of parliament in the area, Kiyoshi Amada, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and senior officials of the line ministry and NWSDB will grace this occasion.  The JICA provided the concessionary yen loan of 8,388 million (approximately Rs.10,000 million) for the implementation of the Kalu Ganga Water Supply Project Phase I Stage II. 
The project includes the construction of the water treatment plant in Kandana, Horana having a capacity of 60,000 m3/day, laying of large diameter water transmission pipelines, construction of water towers in the Kesbewa, Jamburaliya, Kumbuka and Welmilla, laying of pipelines for distribution systems in the Kesbewa East/West, Jamburaliya, Piliyandala, Miriswatta, Koralaima, Gonapola and Kumbuka areas, rehabilitation of 51 kilometres of distribution system in the southern part of the CB1 area namely Pettah, Hultsdorf and parts of Kotahena and Maradana and transmission and distribution improvement in Panadura and Kiriberiya. Around 300,000 people living in the above areas will be benefitted under the project.
The Greater Colombo Water Supply System depended on a few water sources in the past and the JICA extended support for the development of the Kalu Ganga as an alternative water source. The JICA completed its Stage I project in the year 2006 having a water treatment plant with a capacity of 60,000m3/d. With the opening of the new water treatment plant, the water treatment capacity will be increased up to 120,000m3/d. 
The JICA is also discussing with the Government of Sri Lanka on the possibility of extending an assistance for the Kalu Ganga Water Supply Expansion Project by constructing another water treatment plant with a capacity of 140,000m3/d to cater to the increasing water demands in the southern part of Greater Colombo and part of the Kaluthara District.