Vision of the Department
Safe Drinking Water through Sustainable Community Water Projects.
The mission of the Department
“Executing Community Water schemes & Sanitation Development, Community Water Organizations empowerment & Regulation, Water Sources conservation, Department Capacity Development with the due participation of all relevant stakeholders maintaining transparency as a main partner in the great task of creating a prosperous Sri Lanka”
What We Do?
Water is a fundamental human right, and for many decades, we have implemented community-based water projects to provide safe drinking water to rural populations in Sri Lanka who struggle to access water of proper standards. By 2010, nearly 5,000 community water projects had been established across the island in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka, fully sponsored and funded by international organizations such as the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, DANIDA, and FINNIDA. However, by the 2010s, approximately 500 of these projects were at risk of becoming defunct due to various challenges. Recognizing this issue, the government established the Department of National Community Water Supply on September 19, 2014, to ensure the sustainability of community water projects. The main purpose of this department is to regulate these projects and promote their longevity. Despite its establishment in 2014, the department faced constraints, as annual funding was limited to less than 100 million rupees due to delays in obtaining approval for recruitment and in setting up the necessary staff and offices. By 2019, these challenges were addressed, allowing the department to expand its role beyond merely regulating existing water projects and community-based organizations. This expansion enabled us to initiate new water projects and provide significant services to rural communities. The years 2021 and 2022 were marked by significant economic challenges for the country. Nevertheless, we achieved the remarkable feat of providing water connections to nearly 10,000 families (9,806). Additionally, we successfully implemented rainwater collection and sanitation programs, conducted awareness and training sessions, developed cleaning methods, supplied essential accessories, and rehabilitated water projects for 28,000 families involved in these initiatives. In 2023, we began auditing the implementation plans, enhancing the preparation and execution of water safety plans for community-driven projects. We also launched programs to provide solar power and to recharge groundwater, thereby opening new avenues in the field of community water supply.
The Department, which was established in 2014, is governed by a Director General and currently consists of the Head Office and 25 District Offices. The Head Office operates under the following divisions:
The functions assigned to the Administration Division include managing human and physical resources and assisting in the financial control of the Department, all with the aim of providing efficient and effective service to the people and the community.
The Development and Planning Division conducts activities that include identifying development needs at the district level, preparing and implementing the Strategic Development Plan, responding to public requests related to community water issues, preparing project proposals, and supervising all development programs under the Department.
This Division makes all payments relevant to the Department, prepares monthly and annual accounts and presents them to the Treasury, prepares final accounts, settles advances, give replies to audit queries, coordinates with the Committee on Public Accounts, and settles annual accounts as its main functions.
The Technical Division is responsible for approving and checking estimates and bills, organizing technical training programs, reviewing rate analysis and price escalation, recommending EOT, sending performance extension reminders, assisting engineers and TOs with technical work, and addressing audit queries related to technical matters.
The function of the Division is to carry out all purchases required for maintaining the activities of the Department, as well as for supporting community water projects, in accordance with the Procurement Guidelines and Financial Regulations.
This Division is tasked with monitoring all development programs implemented by the Department, along with the community-based organizations established in Sri Lanka. To support these efforts, the Division utilises a management information system that provides accurate, up-to-date data essential for effective development and planning in the rural community water supply sector.
25 District Offices
To bring the role of the Department of National Community Water Supply closer to the people, 25 District Offices have been established to cover all districts. The main functions of these District Offices include identifying and prioritizing community water needs within the district, establishing and strengthening community-based organizations, and regulating existing ones. They also prepare project reports and plans based on identified water needs, securing necessary funds by referring them to relevant parties. The District Offices identify and address issues within community-based organizations, offer capacity-building and technical assistance, and guide these organizations in maintaining water quality and developing water protection plans. Additionally, they motivate people to protect water catchment areas, collect and update relevant information, and keep the management information system up to date.
