COLOMBO, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka will accelerate drinking water projects and give greater attention to using domestic funds instead of foreign loans, local media reported on Saturday.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake gave the instruction during a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo to review national drinking water, community water supply and wastewater management projects, President's Media Division said in a statement on Friday.

Dissanayake said capital expenditure allocations should be used within the same year for the relevant projects. Delays could increase project costs, waste funds already spent and require fresh allocations in the following year, he said.

The president instructed officials to fast-track projects using domestic funds and ensure that the benefits reach the public, the statement said.

He also called on officials to take steps to commence the Weli Oya Reservoir Project in 2027 to support flood control and meet drinking water requirements in the Colombo District. In addition, officials were urged to expedite the completion of the North Central Main Canal and North Western Canal projects without incurring high costs by using domestic funds.

Certain parts of Sri Lanka face drinking water shortages during the dry season. ■