brand logo

Over 21,000 water connections cut by Water Board

15 Sep 2022

  • Rs. 5.2 billion in unpaid arrears 
  • New billing under fire from consumers 
BY Dinitha Rathnayake    More than 21,000 water connections have been disconnected due to bill payment-related arrears, according to the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB). Speaking to The Morning, NWSDB Assistant General Manager Piyal Pathmanatha said that 21,527 connections were disconnected in August due to Rs. 5.2 billion in arrears. He added that they had, however, obtained Rs. 8 million so far from domestic users.  “We would continue the disconnections until we recover our arrears,“ he said, adding: “Rs. 13 million has to be obtained from very important persons (VIPs), while Rs. 5,200 million has to be obtained from 2.6 million domestic users.”  A total of Rs. 3 million is also to be obtained from one deceased MP, after the submission of a Cabinet paper in this regard. He also said earlier that the NWDSB is facing a shortage of water meters and pipes at the moment due to the US dollar crisis, but noted however that it is expected to provide 150,000 new connections this year. “We were able to provide 210,000 connections in 2021 and 150,000 before that. We would be able to recover from this situation, and therefore, we hope to increase the connections provided yearly. Most customers keep their bills for at least two months and pay them at once, and this, in turn, adds interest to their accounts. Therefore, we urge them to pay the bill within 14 days so that they are eligible for a discount.” A large number of consumers, including households, commercial enterprises, Government agencies, and schools owe the NWSDB nearly Rs. 7,500 million as of April 2022. Meanwhile, the new billing system implemented has caused consternation among the public. “Our monthly bill was only Rs. 800 per month and now we have to pay around Rs. 1,440 per month. This is unfair,” a customer claimed.

Kapruka

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!


More News..