UN-Habitat, in collaboration with Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has successfully delivered a water bowser equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to the Assistant Commissioner of Local Government (ACLG) Office in Nuwara Eliya. As part of the project “Strengthening Socioeconomic Resilience of the Communities Affected by COVID-19 Pandemic,” this initiative aims to ensure uninterrupted water access for more than 310,000 residents in Nuwara Eliya District, especially during drought periods.

The official handover ceremony took place on 17^th August 2023, with key stakeholders in attendance, including the Government Agent (GA), the ACLG, the Deputy Director of KOICA (virtually present) and UN-Habitat staff. Mr. Salem Karimzada, Programme Management Officer of UN-Habitat for South Asia, emphasized the essential role of clean and reliable water in the well-being of communities, highlighting the project’s emphasis on collective action. The GA, Mr. G.K.G.A.R.P.K. Nandana, and the ACLG, Mr. Wijewardana, expressed appreciation for the collective efforts to donors as well as UN-Habitat, recognizing reliable water as a fundamental human right and improved water accessibility as a valuable resource for the district.

In addition to the water bowser provided to the ACLG, two incinerators were handed over to Passara Hospital and Walapane Hospital. These incinerators play a pivotal role in collecting and safely disposing of medical waste and thereby contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment not only for the two hospitals but for the 24 peripheral hospitals.

The “Strengthening Socioeconomic Resilience of Communities Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic in Central and Uva Provinces of Sri Lanka” project, funded by KOICA with USD 5.5 million, will continue until the end of June 2025. The ongoing project aims to enhance WASH conditions, health environments and increase the income of farmers and residents of Nuwara Eliya and Badulla Districts.