9 July 2025, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. The Country Director of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Sri Lanka, Ms. Yooli Lee, together with UN-Habitat, recently handed over a gravity- fed, community water supply system to the Liyanwala Pahalagama community members in Nuwara Eliya District.

The official handover was conducted during a monitoring visit by KOICA officials to the Nuwara Eliya District. Ms. Harshini Halangode, Country Programme Manager of UN-Habitat Sri Lanka, Ms.   Yunsoo Jeon, Deputy Country Director of KOICA Sri Lanka Office, Government officials, community members and school children, also participated in the event. This new water supply system provides safe drinking water to over 785 residents in the village.

This new community water supply scheme has already transformed the lives of the residents, providing health benefits and protection from waterborne diseases. With access to a reliable water source, community members, especially women and children are saving time and effort that was previously spent on collecting water from distant or contaminated sources. Households can also invest more time for income-generating activities. Mr. Wimalarathna, a 55-year-old farmer from Liyanwala said: “Thanks to this new water supply system, we don’t need to fetch water from far away anymore. This has given more time for us to focus on our home garden and our children’s education.”

The new water supply system, constructed at a cost of LKR. 13,104,000 (approx. USD 43,419), is situated in two strategic locations in the Liyanwala Pahalagama village. In each location, the water supply system consists of several key components, including a reinforced cement concrete intake dam; silt sedimentation tank; concrete valve chamber; ferrocement roughing filter and storage tank and a PVC chlorination unit. In addition, water connections with water meters have been installed in 184 homes and five public buildings. This intervention was established through the USD 5.5 Mn KOICA project – Strengthening Socioeconomic Resilience of Communities Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Central and Uva Provinces of Sri Lanka which is implemented by UN-Habitat Sri Lanka in the Nuwara Eliya and Badulla districts.

Previously, Liyanwala Pahalagama village had an outdated water supply system which had numerous issues such as frequent sedimentation due to siltation, structural damage, clogged filters and frequent system failures. The lack of a chlorination facility also posed health risks from waterborne diseases to the residents. As this system required frequent dredging and cleaning, maintenance costs were also high.

Following UN-Habitat’s participatory process of project implementation, the construction of the new water supply system was undertaken by two Community Based Organizations – Galliyadda Water Project Society and Liyanwala Pahalagama Grama Sanwardana (village development) Society. The construction work was completed in one year and four months, in close collaboration with community members. Speaking at the hand-over event, Ms. R. A. Inoka Priyadarshani, Treasurer of the Community Water Supply Society said: “I am proud that our gravity-fed river water is now filtered and chlorinated, ensuring every drop we drink is safe and life-sustaining”.

To ensure long-term sustainability, a Water Safety Plan (WSP) was developed in consultation with local stakeholders, including water users. It outlines water quality monitoring, operational protocols, and risk mitigation measures, and includes tariff structures to support cost recovery and funding for ongoing maintenance.

UN-Habitat, with funding support from KOICA, has successfully established 11 community water supply systems across villages and settlements in the Nuwara Eliya District, ensuring improved access to clean and reliable water for local communities.