The joint venture between China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), an internationally renowned construction company, and Business Promoters & Partners Limited (BPPE), a premier local engineering company, have been awarded a contract for the Jaffna-Kilinochchi Water Supply and Sanitisation Project by the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL). 

An agreement was signed on July 22 between the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) and CMEC – BPPE joint venture for the construction of the Water Supply and Sanitation Project. The official signing of the agreement took place at the NWSDB head office in Ratmalana, with the chairman, vice chairman and other senior officials of the Water Board in attendance. Project Manager Yang Wei represented CMEC, while Chairman/Managing Director Gration Fernando was present on behalf of BPPE.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, NWSDB Chairman Engineer K.M. Anzar said that around 300,000 people in the Jaffna-Kilinochchi areas will benefit from this project. He wished the CMEC and BPPE partnership every success for the quick completion of the project. The chairman added that he greatly appreciated the cooperation of the CMEC, BPPE joint venture, which would bring better synergies for the construction of the project.  

Meanwhile, Wei said that the joint venture company was privileged and honoured to be selected as the contractor for this massive water supply project and thanked the chairman and GOSL for the trust placed in them. He assured that as the first Chinese-Sri Lankan joint venture to take on a water project in the North of Sri Lanka, they were ready and geared to begin work on the project.

The NWSDB has said that access to safe drinking water is a basic right of every citizen and the government was committed to provide adequate, safe drinking water to the entire population at an affordable cost and in an equitable, efficient and sustainable manner.

The Jaffna Kilinochchi Water Supply and Sanitation Project has been identified by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) as a priority urban water supply project to be implemented under the Asian Development Bank (ADB) – AFD and GOSL assistance due to the social needs as well as government policy towards provision of infrastructure facilities to the Northern Province war-torn areas. This project is also expected to support the government efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals in the Northern Province through developing water infrastructure. The proposed project will mainly provide safe and reliable drinking water in adequate quantities to the inhabitants living in the areas.

This project, which will cover a main portion of the Jaffna peninsula, Punagary and Palai areas, is estimated to cost Rs.2.89 billion (approx US $ 21.25 million) for the supplying and laying of treated water transmission mains and construction of three treated water sumps in Kaliundai, Pungudativu and Poonakary.  

The duration of the project is 730 days with an anticipated completion date of July 23, 2018. Whilst aiming to provide better water supply and sanitation facilities to residents, the project will also ease the resettlement of displaced persons in the relevant areas improving water supply in the peninsula.

The completion of the project includes construction of three ground water reservoirs in Kaliundai, Punguditivu and Poonakary, laying of water transmission pipelines in Jaffna and Killinochchi Districts and to Nagadeepa, Elinathive and Aunathive islands in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.