According to World Bank studies, currently only about one out of every 10 Sri Lankan households has water on tap and every fifth person relies on rivers, streams and other unprotected water sources for their drinking water.
In order to help rural communities by providing access to drinking water, Nestlé finances clean drinking water facilities in villages located near its manufacturing operations since 2006. Such facilities are also built in India and Bangladesh.
In 2008, Nestlé Lanka financed the construction of 3 water fountains providing clean drinking water to children in rural areas.
The construction of these water fountains is coupled with an awareness campaign which takes place in the form of a water education programme. It aims to educate school children on the importance of the use of safe drinking and water conservation. To this end, each time Nestlé builds a water facility in a rural school, a seminar directed at children on the said topic as well as an arts contest are organised.
Above: Inauguration of clean drinking water facility at Baragedara National School, Kuliyapitiya, on 12th June 2007
Above: Inauguration of clean drinking water facility at Pannala National School on 17th November 2006
Left: Clean drinking water facility at Polonnaruwa General Hospital inaugurated on 6th November 2007
Statistics
On 17th November 2006, water fountains were built at Sandalanka District Hospital, Kurunegala, benefiting approx. 800 people, and Pannala National School for over 3,000 students.
On 12th June 2007, a water fountain was installed at Baragedera National School, Kuliyapitiya, to the benefit of over 800 students; and on 6th November of the same year, a clean drinking water facility was inaugurated at Polonnaruwa General Hospital, serving 2,000 people.
Three water fountains were built in 2008 at Wickramashila National College on 1st January, benefiting 2,500 students, at Sri Mahabodhi, Anuradhapura on 22nd February and at Kataragama Temple on 3rd July, serving thousands of devotees.
On 27th January 2009, Sandalankawa Central College, a school to 2,200 students, inaugurated its own Nestlé-sponsored water fountain.