Publication

In 2006, when Asian Development Bank (ADB) decided to launch a multi-million dollar rural water project in eastern and north central regions of Sri Lanka, there was one overriding requirement–women had to be placed in key positions. As a result, experts say, the $263 million programme, aimed at providing drinking water to over 900,000 people by 2011, has been a resounding success. In the village of Talpothta, in the rural north-central Polonnaruwa district, the village women’s association is now central to the proper functioning of the new water supply plant provided under the ADB programme.