Country background
- Sri Lanka will host the fourth South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SacoSan IV) in February 2011.
- Specific adaptations by the Sri Lanka Government to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) seek to achieve safe drinking water for all by 2025.
Policies and strategies
- In 2002, the Ministry of Housing and Plantation Infrastructure developed the National Policy on Water Supply and Sanitation, which subsumes the Urban Water Supply Policy (undated) and National Policy for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Sector (2001).
- Earlier but still relevant policies are the National Policy on Private Sector Participation in Water Supply and Sanitation (1999) and the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Policy (2000 draft).
- In June 2006, a draft National Policy for Rural Sanitation was prepared by the Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply (MUDWS). This policy draft encourages the implementation of total sanitation through public, local government, and private sector participation.
Institutions
- The Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage (MWSD) is the lead policy making body for the development of the water supply and sanitation sector. MWSD was created on 28 January 2007 when the former Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply (MUDWS) was divided into two Ministries, namely the Ministry of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development and the MWSD.
- Under the MWSD, the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Division (RWSSD) is tasked for the preparation of policies, as well as the implementation, coordination and monitoring of programmes related to rural areas.
- The enactment of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) Act in 1974 established NWSDB as the primary agency responsible for water supply and sanitation in the country. The Government is currently considering to introduce an amendment to the NWSDB Act, that will enable the agency to facilitate cooperation with the approval of the Minister of Water Supply and Drainage; to enter agreements with local water supply and sewerage facilities providers; and to address environmental pollution. NWSDB provides water supply services to 38% of the population, while the rest of the country relies on water systems operated by communities, local authorities, and individual households, including wells and rain harvesting systems.
- The Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition leads policy development and programme implementation related to behaviour change communication and social mobilization for health actions.
- Further sector ministries are the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Management.
- Coordination: Sri Lanka has established coordination mechanisms on specific themes, e.g. rainwater harvesting, sanitation, household water. A Sanitation Task Force was set up by humanitarian agencies in the water and sanitation sector to facilitate exchange on technologies and projects.
