COLOMBO, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's cabinet has approved a 250 million U.S. dollar climate-resilient water supply and sanitation project to improve reliable access to water and strengthen water infrastructure against climate risks, the Department of Government Information said in a statement on Tuesday.

People are seen near the sea in Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka, March 29, 2024. (Photo: Xinhua)

The Asian Development Bank is expected to finance 200 million U.S. dollars of the project, the statement said.

The project aims to improve access to reliable and sustainable water supply and sanitation services, strengthen the climate resilience of water sector infrastructure, and reduce non-revenue water in several areas of Sri Lanka's Western Province, the most populous region of the country.

The government said the project will include five sub-projects: improving the Ambatale water treatment system, upgrading the Jubilee water supply system, managing non-revenue water in Kolonnawa, implementing the Lunugamvehera integrated water supply scheme with a capacity of 20,000 cubic meters, and carrying out the Jaffna wastewater project.

The cabinet also approved the immediate launch of procurement activities for the five sub-projects following a proposal submitted by the minister of housing, construction and water supply, the statement said.

During the dry season, several areas in the country face drinking water shortages.