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About Us:

The Small Town & Rural Water, Sanitation Section (ST, RWS) of the National Water Supply & Drainage Board, is providing water supply and sanitation facilities in small towns and rural areas. It is headed by the Deputy General Manager (ST, RWS) under the purview of one Assistant General Manager to assist him with other staff. This section is obtained from the facilities from regionally operated RWS staff support with the assistance of the DGM (RSCs) with the guidance of the Additional General Manager (Water Supply Projects).

The key functions of the ST,RWS are briefed below.

  • Provide water supply and sanitation facilities to rural areas, schools, health centers, and religious places.
  • Mostly consider the non-pipe-born coverage areas.
  • Coordinate with donor agencies to formulate rural water supply projects and implement the project with the assistance of Regional Support Centers (RSC).
  • Provide technical assistance to the Department of National Community Water Supply (DNCWS) for the formulation of projects, Designs, Procurement works, and guidance and support services on Construction issues.
  • Training program and Technical guidance for Community-Based Organizations (CBO) for Operation and Maintenance of Water supply systems.
  • Taking over the CBO scheme to NWSDB according to the approved guidelines and integrating it into the NWSDB main network system.
  • Preparation of Policies, Guidelines, and manuals for Rural Water Related Activities.
  • Provide necessary assistance to the Rainwater Harvesting System

Organization Structure :

What We Do :

Information Center

Ongoing Projects

Community Involved Water Supply Extension Program – NWSDB & CRIWMP

The program provided drinking water supply facilities to 26,700 beneficiaries residing in 5500 households through the installation of 218 km of community-involved pipe laying.

Funding Agency: The Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project (CRIWMP)

Project Amount: Rupees 280 million

Project Coverage Area: The program was implemented within the Malwatu Oya and Mi Oya river basins, and CRIWMP project districts of Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Puttalam, and Vavuniya. Sub-project areas are selected as Rambe, Serugasyaya, Pohorawaththa, Hangamuwa, Pidivilla, Karavitagara, Udayandulawa, PeriyakulWam, WayaUlpatha, Kelawa, Demunnewa, Karagahawewa, Puthiya Kathapuram, Tharanikulam, Maravankulam, and Parannaddakal.

STRWSS Role:  ST, RWS Section’s primary responsibility was Financial Management and progress review of the technical works of the program. It included

  1. Project planning, budgeting, and disbursement of project funds
  2. Obtaining funds from the CRIWMP and managing in an efficient, effective, and transparent manner
  3. Maintaining books and records for financial transactions and technical data
  4. Furnishing financial reports/technical reports to the CRIWMP and NWSDB
  5. Submission of monthly financial/technical progress reports to the CRIWMP
  6. Overall coordination and monitoring of financial /technical activities and any other requests relating to the CRIWMP
  7. Progress review and completion of the program on scheduled time and agreed budget

IMPLEMENTATION OF ADVANCE WATER FILTER SYSTEMS (RO/NANO) IN SCHOOLS AND HEALTH CENTERS

The Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project (CRIWMP) has been initiated by the Irrigation Department under UNDP funding. Under this project, some of the dry zonal areas schools and Health Centers have been selected by CRIWMP. These schools and health centers are suffering without drinking water facilities. The project has been handed over to ST, RWS section to provide drinking water facilities to the identified schools and health centers. 

The CRIWMP is planned to implement advanced filters in schools and health centers in Kurunegala, Puttalam, Mannar, Vauniya, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Trincomalee Districts.

 

S/No

 

District

Phase I

Phase II

Number of Schools

Number of Hospitals

Number of Schools

1

Kurunegala

5

1

4

2

Puttalam

6

4

2

3

Mannar

6

-

4

4

Vauniya

7

-

-

5

Anuradhapura

-

-

3

6

Polonnaruwa

-

-

5

7

Trincomalee

-

-

2

 

Total

                24

5

20

Water Supply Facilities Needed Schools/ Health Centers

Main Activities

The following major activities were carried out by the respective RSCs with the assistance of ST,RWS.

  • Identification of reliable water sources and conducting the necessary water quality tests.
  • Carried out Designing of the water supply system, Procurement works, and Supervision works.
  • Supply and Installation of Advance Water Filtering Systems (RO/NANO) and commissioning.
  • Arrange training for the staff and relevant officials regarding operational and maintenance works of the Water Purification systems.
  • Initiation and guide the sustainability of the project. By implementing maintenance agreements with contractors and relevant authorities.


Funding Agency: Financing from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) through the Climate Resilient     Integrated Water Management Project (CRIWMP).

Project Amount: Rs. 90.0 million      

    ST, RWS Role:   

  1. Project planning, budgeting, and disbursement of project funds
  2. Obtaining funds from the CRIWMP and managing in an efficient, effective, and transparent manner
  3. Maintaining and furnishing financial reports/technical reports to the CRIWMP and NWSDB
  4. Progress review and completion of the program on scheduled time and agreed budget

FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS FOR SELECTED ESTATE SECTORS IN GALLE, MATARA & BADULLA DISTRICTS.

The Ministry of Water Supply & Estate Infrastructure Development has initiated the program to provide water supply facilities in estate areas to increase the rural water supply coverage and decrease the poverty level of the estate population. The estate area people don’t have sufficient direct water supply facilities and they are using springs or dug wells water without any treatment process.

For this purpose, initially, it is necessary to carry out technical feasibility, designs, and estimates for water supply to selected estates in the Plantation Sector. 

Project coverage Area

S/No

Estate Name

District

1

Nahavilla

Badulla

2

Uduwara

3

Dambetenna

4

Dammeria A

5

Liyangahawela

6

Battawatta

7

Uva Ketawala

8

Thalanagaha

Galle

9

Nakiyadeniya

10

Beverly

Matara

11

Wilpita

Funding Agency: A suitable funding arrangement needs to be arranged for the implementation of this project.

Main Activities: Main Activities vary as per the number of households, type & quality of water sources available in the estates, and the treatment process, etc.

ST, RWS Role:     Small Towns, Rural Water Sanitation Section has planned to conduct feasibility studies for the Galle, Matara, and Badulla districts.

Tree Planting Programme in Rural Catchment Areas at Kothmale and Thalawakele in Nuwara Eliya District

National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) of Sri Lanka celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025. As part of the anniversary celebrations, a tree planting programme has been organized island-wide. In parallel, the ST,RWS Section has planned to plant 1000 numbers of plants in rural catchment areas in the Central province, with the aim of improving water quality, reducing the need for water treatment chemicals, increasing bio diversity, reducing soil erosion, and enhancing dry weather flow in streams, among other benefits.

Our goal is to select locations that require reforestation in streamside areas that require ecological restoration. The selected plants are native species, chosen based on the specific climate-zones of each identified area, to benefit the local ecosystems.

With this in mind, the ST, RWS Section has planned to carry out tree planting programme in the Kothmale and Thalawakele areas in the Nuwara Eliya District. This initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the Department of National Community Water Supply (DNCWS), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), and Estates Management. Financial support and supply of necessary plants were provided by the M/s Mas Holding (Pvt) Ltd. Transportation of the plants from nursery to the planting locations were supported by DGM(Production), officers and labours of Ambatale Water Treatment Plant.

The programme was held on 17th, 18th of January and 20th February 2025 as follows.

Pro.No LocationWater SourceNo of Plants
17th January 2025
1Kothmalee Shingama Udakamini CBO WSS Catchment Kelawaramana Ala150
2Kothmalee Nawakadadora Nil Diyawara CBO WSS CatchmentDelta Waththa fountain 150
3Kothmalee Mawela Kabanillawaka CBO WSS CatchmentStream100
4Kothmalee Mawela West Swashakthi CBO WSS CatchmentStream100
18th January 2025
5Thalawakele Tea Research CenterReservoir75
6Thalawakele Kanarnilar CBO WSS Catchment Stream50
7Ambagamuwa Udayasooriyan CBO WSS Catchment Stream100
8Ambagamuwa Venturakalasa CBO WSS Catchment Stream75
20th February 2025
9Thalawakele Tea Research CenterReservoir200
Total1000


1. Plant transporting from M/s Holding (Pvt) Ltd Warakapola Nursery


2. Kothmale Shingama Udakamini CBO WSS Catchment


3. Kothmale Nawakadadora Nil Diyawara CBO WSS Catchment


4. Kothmale Mawela Kabanillawaka CBO WSS Catchment


5. Kothmale Mawela West Swashakthi CBO WSS Catchment

6. Thalawakele Kanarnilar CBO WSS Catchment


7. Ambagamuwa Udayasooriyan CBO WSS Catchment


8. Ambagamuwa Venturakalasa CBO WSS Catchment


9. Thalawakele Tea Research Center

Karandeniya PS Water Supply Scheme at Uragasmanhandiya

Accordion Content

Contact Details

Small Towns, Rural Water
& Sanitation Section
National Water Supply & Drainage Board
Thelawala Road, Ratmalana

Tel: 011-2605349
Deputy General Manager (Act)
Mr. W. D. A. Perera

Tel: 011-2605349
Email: dgmrws@gmail.com
Deputy General Manager – Finance
Ms. M. M. S. Peiris

Tel: 011-2625341
Fax: 011-2623354
Email: agmsfa@waterboard.lk