He made these remarks addressing the opening ceremony of the Korathota water supply project, which was completed at a cost of Rs 154 million recently.

The minister said for the first time in the history the government is working with the private sector on water projects. The first such project will be started in Welivita. Under this scheme it can clean 90,000 cubic meters of water. Minister Hakeem said that without such projects the government cannot provide water to all people. The government spends Rs 48 to clean 1,000 litres of water but the consumer is charged only Rs 12.

A total of 1500 families will get clean drinking water under the Korathota water supply project.