3. Amendment of section 17 of the principal enactment

Official English translation. Where it differs from the Sinhala or Tamil text, the Act itself says which text prevails.

Section 17 of the principal enactment is hereby amended as follows:-

(1)

by the insertion immediately after paragraph (a)

thereof, of the following new paragraph: -

“(aa) to enter into agreements with any person to obtain water from surface and ground water resources;”;

(2)

in paragraph (c) thereof, by the substitution for the words “to acquire, hold”, of the words “to acquire, purchase, hold”;

(3)

by the insertion immediately after paragraph (j)

thereof, of the following new paragraphs: -

“(ja) to engage in activities related to surface and ground water resource development for the provision, development and maintenance of water supply and sewerage services in collaboration with any Government department or person or any body approved by the Minister;

(jb)

with the approval of the Minister, to establish and maintain any subsidiary organization or a strategic business unit under the provisions of the Companies

Act, No. 07 of 2007 which may in the opinion of the Board, directly or indirectly promote the interests or be conducive to the attainment of the objects of the Board;

(jc)

with the written directions of the

Minister either directly or through any subsidiary organization or strategic business unit established under paragraph (jb) of this section or in association with the Tertiary and

Vocational Education Commission or any other institution having similar objects to that of the Board within or outside Sri Lanka-

(i)

to provide consultancy and advisory services, training and knowledge sharing, research and development, in relation to water supply and the management of wastewater;

(ii)

to provide training facilities, programmes relating to water supply and the management of wastewater;

(iii)

to conduct diploma courses relating to water supply and the management of wastewater and to award diplomas where appropriate; and

(iv)

to conduct seminars, workshops and conferences;

(jd)

to enter into and to perform, all such agreements with any Government department or any other institution approved by the Minister for the provision of technical assistance to promote sustainability and improved service delivery of community based water supply;

(je)

to provide laboratory services to any

Government or private sector entity or to any person and to charge fees for such services in accordance with such charges as may be fixed, from time to time by the Board, with the approval of the Minister in consultation with the Minister assigned the subject of

Finance;

(jf)

to open and maintain bank accounts in any local or foreign currency;”.

Read on from s 4