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NWSDB announces water supply restrictions in key Colombo areas
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) stated that 3-hour water cuts will be imposed every other day from 2 to 10 April.Affected areas include Battaramulla, Pamankada, Wellawatte, Nawala and surrounding areas, from 10.00 p.m. to 1.00 a.m.A separate 24-hour water cut will apply to Padukka, Homagama, Pelanwatta and Pannipitiya, followed by three days of normal supply.
Water cuts in Colombo and surrounding areas until rains return
The ongoing West Asia war, triggered by joint Israel-US attack on Iran on 28 Februar, has benefited the China-run Hambantota International Port (HIP).With Iran imposing restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz shipping, in retaliation for unprovoked attack, thereby choking vital shipping routes, particularly for crude oil and refined oil products, HIP situated, along the East-West shipping corridor, has received the anticipated attention. Soon after the sinking of an unarmed Iranian frigate, just outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters, in India’s backyard, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar categorised HIP as a foreign military base, along with Diego Garcia, Bahrain and Djibouti, where both the US and China maintained major bases. HIP, in a press release issued on Sunday (05), declared that the Port has significantly expanded its operational capacity, in response to a sharp surge in global shipping volumes, resulting from the West Asia conflict. The company asserted that the developing situation reinforced its position as a key alternative hub along the East–West shipping corridor. The port has doubled its Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) yard capacity and increased its container yard capacity by 30%, as shipping lines divert operations away from disrupted routes in search of stable and efficient alternatives. HIP is situated just 10 nautical miles from the main East–West shipping route, allowing vessels to divert with minimal deviation while maintaining schedule integrity. The Chinese government-owned China Merchant Port Holdings (CMPort) under controversial circumstances acquired controlling interests of the Hambantota port in 2017 during the Yahapalanaya administration. Although the Sri Lankan government repeatedly said that Sri Lanka was paid USD 1.12 bn according to the HIP website CMPort invested $974 mn in the HIP and held 85 percent of the shares. The 2017 agreement granted CMPort a 99-year lease to develop, manage and operate the Port area. The Supreme Court dismissed a fundamental rights petition filed by lawmaker Vasudeva Nanayakkara pointing out that the original agreements pertaining to the Hambantota port had been signed in 2012 and 2013 during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure as the president when he was a member of the Rajapaksa Cabinet. The HIP press release quoted CEO of HIP Wilson Qu as having said: “What we are witnessing today is a structural shift in global shipping patterns. At HIP, we have focused on building the capacity and ope...
Water Bowser Supplies for Colombo Water Scarce Areas
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has introduced strict water management measures in several parts of the Colombo District as water levels at the Labugama and Kalatuwawa reservoirs continue to decline rapidly due to high consumer demand and prevailing hot, dry weather.
3-hour water cuts imposed in several Colombo areas due to shortage
A three-hour water cut will be imposed in several Colombo areas from April 2 to April 10 due to a water shortage, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said. According to the NWSDB, water supply will be interrupted from 10.00 pm to 1.00 am on every other day in Pamankada, Battaramulla, Wellawatte, Nawala and surrounding areas.
