In 2010, the ADB lent Jaffna Peninsula, one of Sir Lanka’s least developed regions, $90m to support the development of a safe drinking water supply.

Jingmin Huang, ADB principal urban development specialist, said: “Through the development and management of a desalination plant, the additional finance will complete ADB’s effort to provide piped water for 300,000 people and eliminate the drudgery of fetching water over long distances that women particularly face.”

The overall project cost had been estimated at $266m, including the additional financing, and is expected to be completed by December 2025.

The loan comes with $500,000 in technical assistance to support institutional capacity building in Jaffna’s water sector, including managing the contract of the plant, conducting community awareness activities and producing sanitation safety plans.

The ADB also approved up to $900m financing to upgrading Sri Lanka’s road network along with a $50m loan to fund solar power generation systems in October.