New Delhi, March 26, 2026: A high-level parliamentary delegation from Sri Lanka is currently on a week-long official visit to India to study key rural development initiatives, including the Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin.
The delegation, led by MP S.M. Marikkar, visited the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, where officials presented detailed insights into the implementation and impact of both flagship programmes.
During the session, DDWS Secretary Ashok K.K. Meena highlighted India’s governance model, emphasizing decentralised implementation through local bodies, particularly Gram Panchayats, to ensure efficient last-mile delivery of essential services like drinking water and sanitation.
Officials outlined key learnings from the execution of these missions, including:
- Decentralised governance: Empowering communities to manage and own water and sanitation services through Gram Panchayats
- Inter-departmental coordination: Ensuring seamless service delivery at the village level
- Use of technology: Leveraging mobile applications for transparency, real-time monitoring, and grievance redressal
- Sustainability focus: Integrating wastewater management, rainwater harvesting, and circular economy principles
The delegation was also briefed on India’s rural water supply journey. Officials noted that the Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in 2019, aims to provide functional household tap connections (FHTCs) to every rural household, marking a significant shift in rural infrastructure development.
Senior officials, including Additional Secretary and Mission Director of the National Jal Jeevan Mission, and other DDWS representatives, were present during the interaction.
The visit is expected to strengthen India–Sri Lanka cooperation in water management and sanitation, while offering valuable insights into scalable and community-driven development models.
