This study was funded by the Gamani Corea Foundation. We presented to the media our research findings of the study of the economic impact on urban dwellers due to health hazards caused by deficiencies in drainage systems and wastewater management. The total medical costs for some households exceed Rs . 50,000/=. (These are daily paid workers in the informal sector). Kalutara, Gampaha and Hambantota ranked the worst among districts where the main income earner lost more than 11 days of work due to waterborne diseases.
Despite the government spending, many areas see little improvement. Government authorities highlighted significant obstacles they faced in addressing these issues, including limited access to water purification facilities, low public awareness of proper sanitation practices and scarce water sources.