The President requested officials to prepare a report detailing projects that can be started right away, including necessary funding and expected completion dates. He stressed that financial limitations should not hinder progress and instructed officials to create project plans and submit funding requests as needed. He further advised that, instead of relying on foreign loans, more focus should be placed on using domestic funds to complete projects whenever possible. Additionally, he called for the recruitment of staff for project planning on a contract basis. The President highlighted the importance of utilizing capital expenditure within the same year for these projects. He warned that failing to do so could lead to increased project costs, loss of benefits from already spent funds, and the need for additional capital provisions in the following year for the same projects. During the discussion, the President also reviewed ongoing and planned projects aimed at resolving drinking water issues in districts including Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Monaragala, Kandy, Gampola, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Jaffna, Ampara, Batticaloa, and Polonnaruwa, along with their progress and challenges. Officials informed the President that aging main water pipelines were causing inadequate water supply in the Colombo District. They presented plans to tackle these issues, while the President stressed the necessity for effective coordination and planning between the Road Development Authority and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board in these efforts. He also instructed officials to initiate the Weli Oya Reservoir Project next year to help with flood control and meet drinking water needs in Colombo. Attention was given to the North Central Main Canal and North Western Canal projects. The President reviewed the progress of initiatives addressing the severe drinking water shortage in Welikanda, Medirigiriya, and Lankapura, urging officials to speed up the completion of cost-effective projects using local funding. He pointed out that all projects should be executed systematically to ensure that they benefit the public. While some projects had been paused to prioritize essential ones, he reiterated that all initiatives are meant to meet the people's needs and should be conducted in an organized manner. The meeting included Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Dr. Susil Ranasinghe, Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Prasanna Gunasena, Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply T.B. Sarath, Deputy Minister of Cooperative Development Upali Samarasinghe, and several Members of Parliament. Other attendees included Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply L.B. Kumudulal, Director General of the Department of National Budget Jude Nilukshan, Chairman of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board Engineer A.M.P.C.P. Bandara, Chairman of the ...
