5 October 2025, Colombo, Sri Lanka. UN-Habitat, together with the National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWSDB) officially launched a new project in Sri Lanka entitled: Safe and Resilient Water Supply for Western Cities – Integrating Climate Resilience into Water Safety Plans of the Ambatale Water Supply Scheme. This project is funded through a US$ 469,232 (LKR 142 million) grant from the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)’s trust fund, IRAF, with financial support from the Government of India. The project was officially launched at “Temple Trees” – the office of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka – during the national World Habitat Day celebrations organized by the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing.

The project document was officially handed over to Anura Kumara Dissanayake, H.E. the President of the Democratic, Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka by Mr. David White, Director-Advocacy and Communications, CDRI and Ms. Harshini Halangode, UN-Habitat Country Programme Manager for Sri Lanka. Anura Karunathilaka, Hon. Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing; T.B. Sarath, Hon. Deputy Minister for Housing; Mr. Ranjith Ariyaratne, Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing; Ms. Navya Singla, First Secretary (Pol.) of the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, were also present at the ceremony.

This project aims to improve the catchment management capacities of Urban Local Authorities in Colombo, Kotte and Kelaniya and the early warning capacities of the NWSDB to increase the resilience of operations and maintenance of the Ambatale Water Supply Scheme protecting it from climate change induced floods and droughts. This project will support NWSDB to align with Edition II of World Health Organization’s Water Safety Plan (WSP) Manual enabling upscaling at national level. The project will be jointly implemented by UN-Habitat and NWSDB from 2025 to 2027.

Discussing the importance of the project to the country’s water supply system, Hon. Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing stated: “We are pleased to launch this nationally important, collaborative water sector project UN-Habitat and the National Water Supply & Drainage Board on World Habitat Day. It will pave the way towards establishing a best-practice model for integrating disaster and climate resilience into critical water infrastructure in Sri Lanka”.

Mr. David White, Director – Advocacy & Communications at CDRI stated “We are pleased to support UN-Habitat and the National Water Supply & Drainage Board in driving Sri Lanka’s vital journey toward climate resilience. This project exemplifies the collaborative spirit and forward-thinking innovation that CDRI is committed to championing on a global scale for urban resilience.”

UN-Habitat’s Country Programme Manager, Ms. Harshini Halangode noted, “This project will protect over 2 million people in Greater Colombo who depend on the Ambatale Water Supply Scheme. Rising pollution, floods, and droughts threaten daily water supply, making this initiative essential for safe, reliable, and climate-resilient water for the city and surrounding areas.”

The “Safe and Resilient Water Supply for Western Cities – Integrating Climate Resilience into Water Safety Plans of the Ambatale Water Supply Scheme” project extends its gratitude to the Government of India for its financial support through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure’s, trust fund, IRAF. Sri Lanka, along with Bhutan, Brazil, India, and Honduras are receiving a total of US $2.47 million under the first Call for Proposals of CDRI’s Urban Infrastructure Resilience Programme.

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About CDRI: Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a global coalition dedicated to enhancing the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks. With 60 Members, it includes national governments, international organizations, and businesses collaborating to share knowledge, conduct research, and invest in disaster resilient infrastructure. Members benefit from access to global expertise, funding, technical support, research opportunities, innovative solutions, and international best practices. Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, an International Organization recognized by the Government of India, is headquartered in New Delhi, India. The Prime Minister of India officially launched CDRI during the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit.