Courtesy Hiru News

The Chairman of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB), Chandana Bandara, announced that the recent disaster caused nearly Rs. 5 billion in damage to the water supply infrastructure.

The worst damage occurred at the Katugastota pumping station near the Mahaweli River in Kandy. 

Additionally, part of the pumping station in the Nillambe area of Kandy is affected by a landslide.

Serious damage also occurred at the pumping station near the Mahaweli River in Mahiyanganaya.

The disaster impacted 156 water pumping stations in total. Of these, 148 are restored and operational, with efforts underway to restart the remaining eight. 

The Chairman expects the Mahiyangana pumping station, in particular, to be operational by this evening.

Army, Navy, and NWSDB officials are making strenuous efforts to restore the Nillambe pumping station. 

If the restoration of the Nillambe pumping station takes time, a temporary water supply system will be implemented for the area.

Restoration work on three pumping stations in the Hemmathagama and Matale districts will also likely be completed quickly.

Bandara further stated that approximately 90% of the areas where the water supply was disrupted by the emergency disaster situation now have restored water supply.