The recent natural disaster has caused almost Rs. 5 billion in damage to Sri Lanka’s water supply infrastructure, with major disruptions reported across multiple districts, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said.
NWSDB Chairman Chandana Bandara said the worst impact occurred at the Katugastota pumping station on the banks of the Mahaweli River in Kandy, where floodwaters caused extensive structural and operational damage. A section of the pumping station in Nillambe, also in Kandy, was hit by a landslide, further complicating restoration efforts.
Severe damage was also reported at the Mahiyanganaya pumping station near the Mahaweli River, Bandara said.
In total, 156 pumping stations were affected by the disaster. Of these, 148 have been restored and are functioning, while teams continue work to restart the remaining eight. Bandara said he expects the Mahiyanganaya station to be operational by Thursday evening.
Army, Navy, and NWSDB personnel are working intensively to restore the Nillambe pumping station. If repairs are delayed, authorities plan to deploy a temporary water supply system to ensure uninterrupted service to affected residents.
Restoration work at three pumping stations in the Hemmathagama and Matale districts is also progressing and is expected to be completed soon, Bandara added.
He said approximately 90 percent of areas that experienced water supply disruptions now have service restored, as emergency repairs continue nationwide.
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