President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the 2027 Budget will give special priority to providing permanent solutions to the country’s long-standing drinking water issues.
He made these remarks while chairing a discussion at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (08) to review the progress of projects implemented under the 2026 budget allocations of the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, and to discuss funding requirements for 2027.
During the meeting, separate reviews were conducted on the progress of projects implemented by institutions under the Ministry, including the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB), the National Community Water Supply Department, the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA), and the Ministry’s Resettlement Division. Officials also presented their plans and budget requirements for 2027.
The President pointed out that the existence of multiple institutions under different ministries carrying out similar responsibilities has resulted in inefficiencies in project implementation. He noted that maintaining institutions established decades ago for purposes that are no longer relevant has become an additional financial burden on the State and instructed officials to phase out non-performing institutions.
The discussion also reviewed the progress and future plans of several key water supply projects, including the Kandy North Integrated Water Supply Project, the Greater Colombo Wastewater Management Project, the Ambatale Water Supply Project, and the Anuradhapura North Water Supply Project.
The President emphasized the need to allocate the largest-ever budgetary provision in 2027 to address drinking water shortages across the country and held extensive discussions on funding requirements for this purpose.
Special attention was also given to the government’s resettlement programme. President Dissanayake instructed officials to accelerate the resettlement of families displaced by the war and to introduce a housing assistance programme for low-income families whose homes remain partially completed.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of the government’s “A Home of One’s Own – A Better Life” national housing programme and discussed budget allocations required for its implementation next year.
The discussion was attended by Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Susil Ranasinghe, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply T.B. Sarath, Presidential Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, senior officials from the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, and other government institutions.
