Chinese company has kicked off a 230-million-U.S. dollar water supply project, which is the largest ever undertaken by the Sri Lankan government.

The inaugural pipe laying was done by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa in the town of Mahara, about 19.6 km from capital Colombo.

The project, once completed, will provide clean drinking water to about 600,000 people in 42 villages scattered around the region.