The Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development, Jeevan Thondaman, reassured the public that there are no plans to increase water tariffs in the near future. Instead, the Ministry is diligently working on implementing a water tariff formula, scheduled to be rolled out in January 2024.

Addressing a News Briefing at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) under the theme 'Collective path to a stable country,' Minister Thondaman clarified the government's stance on water tariffs and outlined key initiatives aimed at supporting the Upcountry community.

The Minister emphasized that following the water tariff hike in August 2023, there will be no further increases. The primary focus now is the development of a cost recovery formula, which is being collaboratively devised with the Water Board and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) project. This project is an integral part of a policy-based sub-program that aims to contribute US $100 million to the centralized budget upon completion.

Refuting recent rumors about the current formula's intentions, Minister Thondaman explained that the aim is to ensure fair water access while safeguarding vulnerable segments of society. These individuals, beneficiaries of social welfare programs such as Samurdhi and Aswasuma, are the focus of this effort. Notably, the water tariff changes apply exclusively to Water Board consumers, with approximately 2.96 million connections, excluding estate sectors, which fall under the Rural Community Water Supply Department.

The Rural Community Water Supply Department extends its services to not only the estate community but to all rural areas. It operates closely with 5,000 community-based organizations, ensuring that these changes are part of a broader effort to enhance water supply and affordability for a significant portion of the population.