Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Sri Lanka

The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C. probably from northern
India. Buddhism was introduced in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great
civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200
B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the
14th century, a south Indian dynasty established a Tamil
kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The coastal areas of the island
were controlled by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by
the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the
British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was united under
British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948.

Population : - 21,513,990 (Country comparison to the world 55)

Birth rate :- 15.88 births/1,000 (2010 est.) (Country comparison to the world 129)
Death rate : - 6.2 deaths/1,000 ( 2010 est.)(Country comparison to the world 160)
Literacy :- Age 15 and over can read and write Total population: 90.7%
GDP :- $96.43 billion (2009 est.) (Country comparison to the world 69)
Population below poverty line : - 23% (2008 est.)

2.2 Rural Sri Lanka

Before the tsunami hit Sri Lankans coasts in December 2004, about 5 million people or
25 per cent of the population were living below the poverty line of US$12 per person
monthly. Another 3 million people eked out a living on the equivalent of US$15 per person
monthly. The estimated number of poor people living in the country’s rural areas was
4 million (World Bank) — representing almost one third of the total rural population. In a
few terrifying minutes, the tsunami took its toll, killing more than 38,000 people and
changing the lives of many more by wiping out their livelihoods.
Hundreds of thousands of people were at risk of plunging into
poverty. In its wake, the tsunami left desolate evidence of how
vulnerable rural poor people are in the face of shocks and natural
disasters.

Where, who and why?

Nine out of ten poor people in Sri Lanka live in rural areas. The 20-year civil conflict in the
north and east of the country had a major impact on poverty, leading to the displacement of
about 800,000 people from their homes and sources of livelihood. Thousands of children lost
one or both parents, and there was an increase in the number of households headed by
women, which are more likely to be exposed to economic hardship. More than 40 per cent of
rural poor people are small farmers. Apart from poor people in areas affected by conflict,
most of the rural poor are concentrated in the Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa and Southern
provinces. Agricultural growth in those provinces has been sluggish. A significant lack of
infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and irrigation and communication facilities limits
people’s opportunities to earn income through off-farm activities. Malnutrition among
children is common. In some areas in six of the seven provinces, seven out of ten people have

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 no access to electricity, and almost half of the population does not have access to safe
drinking water.
Chapter 2
COMMUNITY WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION PROJECT SRI LANKA.

R ural Water Supply and Sanitation Division (RWSSD) of the

Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage is the
National Agency responsible for rural water supply and
sanitation sector development in Sri Lanka. The
RWSSD has undertaken the implementation of two large
scales Community Water Supply & Sanitation Projects
(CWSSP) in thirteen (13) districts of Sri Lanka with
financial assistance from World Bank, Japanese Bank for International
Corporation (JBIC), the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and participating
beneficiary communities. Projects are designed to achieve the set objectives by integrating
safe drinking water, basic sanitation, hygiene education, environmental programs and
diversifying community activities to socio economic and cultural fields. This integrated
approach has been tested and proven to be highly successful during the implementation of
first Pilot Community Water Supply & Sanitation Project – I (CWSSP - I). This pilot project
has been rated as the "BEST PRACTICE" and "WELL MANAGED PROJECT" by the
World Bank among 200 similar projects funded by the Bank around the world. In recognition
of this achievement, World Bank has offered a grant of US $ 38.9 Mn. for the on-going 2nd
CWSSP. Based on this innovative participatory development approach tested through
CWSSP – I, a National Policy for the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Sector has been
formulated and is now being implemented in the entire country.

2.1 Vision of Project

Improve the quality of life and reduce poverty of the rural and estate
communities.

2.2 Mission of Project

Improve health condition through the provision of safe drinking
water, adequate sanitation facilities, hygiene practices, environmental
programmes and enhance living standards of rural and estate
communities by embarking on social and economic ventures.

2.3 Objectives of Project

 Community based water supply facilities implemented in selected rural communities / Grama
Niladhari Divisions (GNDs) in 7 districts.
 Sanitation facilities provided to needy rural households.
 Health and hygiene awareness and practices improved in participating rural communities
 Household and community based environment protection programs implemented to ensure
continued and effective use of water supply and sanitation facilities.
 Systems and institutions developed for community based planning, implementation,
operation and maintenance in a cost effective and sustainable manner

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 Develop economic activities to enhance the income.

Overall Objective

The Overall objective of the proposed project is to improve the living conditions of
the rural communities by increasing their effective access to safe drinking water and
adequate sanitation facilities, and improving their hygiene practices and promoting
environmental conservation and diversifying social, cultural and economic activities in a
sustained and cost effective manner.

2.4 Approach and Strategies

Total emphasis is on Participatory Community Development Approach, unleashing of latent

potential in rural communities, changing their mindset to assume leadership through
community mobilization process. Beneficiaries get organized and form into Community
Based Organizations (CBOs) to achieve their common objectives. Exposed to awareness
creation and training, they build up self-reliance as opposed to dependency. Communities
identify their needs, plan and undertake the construction of water supply schemes. More
importantly, they assume the full responsibility to manage their water/sanitation facilities in a
sustainable manner.

2.5 Project Concepts

 People Centered
 Demand Responsive (Demand Driven)
 Community Planned and Constructed
 Community Managed and Owned
Project Objectives
 Provide Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation Facilities
 Improve Health Conditions through Hygiene Education
and Practices
 Enhance Home and Village Environment
 Develop Human Resources and Capacity of CBOs
 Alivate Poverty and Improve the quality of life of rural and estate communities
Salient Features of the Project

 Community Implement, Owned and Managed -the beneficiary communities will be

mobilized, organized and prepared to undertake planning & design construction of
facilities, operation and maintenance of the completed facilities in a sustainable manner.
 Community Contributed - a minimum contribution of 20% of the capital cost of the
water supply systems is made by the community.
 Community Capacity Building - strong Community Based Organization (CBOs) capable
of undertaking the responsibility of construction, operation and maintenance. The project
mobilizes and provides necessary assistance to CBOs to obtain legal status.
 Sustainability Ensured – The project involves users in decision-making throughout the
project cycle and thereby strengthens community ownership and responsibility in respect
of construction and maintenance of facilities

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 Integrated Approach –The project considers health and hygiene promotion as an integral
part of water supply and sanitation activities in order to stimulate demand for water supply
and sanitation improvements and maximize the health impact of improved facilities.

2.6 Project Principal Stakeholders/organizations:

 Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Division (RWSSD) of the Ministry of Water
Supply and Drainage
 Central, North Western and East Provincial Councils (PCs)
 Participating Pradeshiya Sabhas (PSs)
 Estate Management (Only in Estate Sector WSS Programmes)
 Partner Organizations (POs)
 Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)

2.7 Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Division (RWSSD)

The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Division (RWSSD) of the Ministry of Water Supply
& Drainage is the National Agency responsible for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation
(RWSS) sector. Key responsibilities of the RWSSD are:

1. policy formulation, updating and regulation

2. preparation of implementation procedures and guidelines
3. coordination with donor agencies
4. facilitation of sector development activities and
5. monitoring and evaluation of sector programs

Presently RWSS Division is managing two major RWSS projects, namely the

 Second Community Water Supply and Sanitation Project (2nd CWSSP)

 Reactivated Community Water Supply and Sanitation Project - II (CWSSP - II).

The goal of these projects is to improve the living conditions of the rural and estate
communities by increasing their effective access to safe drinking water, adequate
sanitation facilities, improving their hygiene practices and environment on a sustained and
cost effective manner.

The 2nd CWSSP was started in August 2003 and is scheduled to be completed in December
2010. The project is jointly funded by the World Bank, GOSL and beneficiary communities.
The project is been implemented in North Western (Kurunegala District), Central (Kandy,
Matale, NuwaraEliya Districts) and Eastern (Trincomalee, Ampara Districts) Provinces. The
project is adopting decentralized implementation approach by involving Provincial Councils
and Pradeshiya Sabhas. The project targets to provide water supply and sanitation facilities to
889,330 people. The total estimated cost is Rs. 5,886 million.

The Reactivated CWSSP - II is being implemented in Badulla, Rathnapura, Matara,

Colombo, Gampaha, Anuradhapura and Hambantota districts. It was started in 2004 and is
scheduled to be completed in June 2010. Initially, the project was supported by the Japanese

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Bank for International Corporation (JBIC) but presently funded by the GOSL and the
beneficiary communities. The project targets to provide water supply and sanitation facilities
to 662,890 people. The total estimated cost of the project in Rs. 3,825 million

Chapter 3
PROJECT COMPONENTS

3.1 Water Supply

Project adopts participatory development approach for water supply scheme planning,
construction and scheme management. Under this approach, participating communities are
actively involved in the decision making and implementation process. Different water supply
options available for the provision of safe drinking water are given in the table below.

Water supply options available

Water Supply Option

Service level
Category Description
Individual dug well Well per household
Shallow dug wells
Common dug wells Well per 3-8 household
Hand pumps with machine driven tube
Well per 15-20 household
Hand pump tube wells
wells Hand pumps with manually driven tube
Well per household
wells (locally made hand pumps)
House connection/yard taps
Pumping(electricity or diesel driven)
or common taps
Piped water
House connection/yard taps
supply schemes Gravity
or common taps
Extension from existing services House connections
Rain water
Domestic level rainwater harvesting
harvesting Tank per household
systems
systems

The project provides capital requirement for water supply project construction up to 80 % of
the total estimated cost. The community provides minimum of 20 % of the capital cost in the
form of labor contribution and / or cash contribution. The project has stipulated maximum
contribution that can be provided per each beneficiary household based on the technology
decided by the community

During the implementation process, communities undertake the responsibility of construction

including procurement of construction materials. On completion of the construction, the
communities undertake the responsibility of water supply scheme operation and maintenance.
For pipe borne water supply schemes, scheme specific tariff is decided by the respective
community.

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The project provides a comprehensive training on water supply planning, construction and
management to community leaders including accounts and auditing throughout this
implementation process. Sanitation coverage in rural Sri Lanka is only 63%. During the last
few decades several initiatives have been taken by the Governmental and non Governmental
Organizations to increase coverage and to achieve total sanitation. Increasing sanitation
coverage and sustaining satisfactory levels is a challenging task. Sanitation Revolving Loan
Fund is an excellent instrument to meet this challenge.

Based the lessons learned, the CWSSP has taken an initiative to formulate a sustainable
sanitation program. The main objectives of this sanitation program are to,

 improve the health and well-being of beneficiary families by encouraging hygienic

practices by constructing latrines, particularly for those who do not use latrines
particularly for those who are now to open defecation
 establish a financial mechanism (Sanitation Revolving Loan Fund) by providing seed
funds to sustainably cover sanitation needs and
 eliminate unhygienic fecal disposal practices and reduce waterborne diseases, with
minimum project intervention

The Sanitation Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) is established with seed funds from the project
and contribution from the beneficiaries. Potential participating families are requested to
submit their sanitation need with an initial contribution of Rs.50 to their respective
Community Based Organizations (CBO). The SRF is the key to sustainability, the seed funds
to villages to sustainably cover sanitation needs, with minimum project intervention. The
CBO decides the loan amount to be given to individual families according to need. During
the last two years, over 23,093 latrines have been constructed in 523 villages and the
recovery rate of the SRF exceeds 80%. Sanitation coverage in these villages is 100%
although the project provided seed funds only for 50% of the requirement. The target is to
construct another 50,000 latrines within 6 years in 945 villages

3.2 Hygiene Education

The pioneers in rural development who reached out to rural masses

with safe drinking water did a great service by alleviating their
hardships in drawing water for household needs from long distances.
However to their dismay, they discovered that there were no
significant improvements in health conditions of beneficiaries in spite
of their intervention. As a response to this phenomenon, sanitation and
hygiene education were introduced as components of the water supply
programme. This yielded good results. Basic hygiene massages endorsed by WHO were
disseminated by CWSSP to the beneficiaries from the early stages. They were very
elementary messages covering subjects such as use of toilet, hand washing etc. Of late, the
project implementers have realized that it is possible to offer a wider range of messages to the
beneficiaries, given their high literacy rates and exposure. The project was also conscious that
a large body of knowledge was being developed with the advances in medical and health
science

Taking these developments into account, a specialist committee comprising of Medical

Specialists, Community Development Specialists Academics and Hygiene Educators was
appointed to develop more sophisticated messages to meet the demands of a literate

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community. Some of the messages were aimed to break the conventional village inhibitions
including myths that adversely impact on the health of rural communities. The messages have
been already shared with Regional Directors and are included in the regular training
programmes. The community facilitators of the project play an important role in interacting
with the beneficiaries to carry the messages to the grassroots. It is hoped to use a variety of
communication methodologies reach to the beneficiaries. Arrangements have been made to
print a booklet in a readable format to dissemination among beneficiaries. In addition, person
to person communication systems, press media, electronic media will be used in this exercise
the school system will be used with advantage to take the mesasages to the rural homes.

3.3 Environment

The CWSSP emphasizes the importance of incorporating environmental improvement

activities in sub project areas. The objectives of the environmental program are (i) catchment
preservation and source protection as a means of increasing the prospects of water source
sustainability (ii) develop the village environment by improving such social infrastructure as
drains, culverts, retaining walls etc (iii) modify household land use practices and improve the
water absorbing capacity of home garden areas (iv) educate beneficiary households in new
and improved methods of preventing soil erosion on their lands, and increase family income
from cultivation of cash crops.

Although the total environmental improvements in villages where water supply and sanitation
projects are implemented is essential to sustainability of the water supply facilities provided,
due to the magnitude of the problem, and the project's limited capacity, specific and simple
activities are implemented. Hence, activities under environmental program are principally
aimed at water source protection and catchment area protection.

3.4 Diversification of CBO Activities

Water supply and sanitation implementation is considered as a part of service delivery, and
social capital emerged within communities during the creation of facilities are often ignored.
With nearly two decades of experience in the water supply and sanitation sector, the 2nd
CWSSP has identified that emerging social capital could be used as a driving force for the
total development in a village. Accordingly, CWSSP consider the water supply and sanitation
is a means for alleviating poverty. Therefore, the CWSSP is promoting target communities to
diversify their activities beyond water supply and sanitation development

Main objectives of the diversification program are to,

 Assist low-income families to escape from clutches of poverty through income

generation
 Ensure sustainability of CBOs as a village level organization
 Maintain the momentum of user communities towards the development of their
village and
 Enhance CBOs capacity for water supply system management.

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 Chapter 4
PERFORMANCE AND PROGRESS OF PROJECT

4.1 Water Supply Progress (2010 April)

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 4.2Physical Achievements

 Provided safe drinking water to over 3.4 million people through 3,466 water supply schemes.
 Constructed sanitary toilets for 164,200 HH
 Achieved community contribution of 35% as against mandated 20% through effective
mobilization
 Provided Water Supply and Sanitation facilities for 805 schools
 Introduced Rain Water Harvesting (16,357 tanks)
 Popularized Ferro Cement technology
 Established innovative Sanitation Revolving Loan Fund (SRLF) to achieve 100% sanitation
coverage

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Chapter 5
REFERENCE

 http://www.cwssp.org/projects2.html

 http://www.google.lk/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=strict&biw=1024&bih=555&tbs=isch
%3a1&sa=1&q=community+based+organizations+activities&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ce.html

 http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/web/guest/country/home/tags/sri%20lanka

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