The 2004 Sri Lanka Supreme Court judgment on a controversial Water Services Reform Bill opened the way for civil society to engage with the water authorities have developed a new National Water Policy which has recognized several concepts such as recognition of access to water as a fundamental right in keeping with the United Nations General Comment on Water No.15 of 2002. The Policy is only a statement of good intentions, and needs to be given effect to by an Act of Parliament that will have to be scrutinised very carefully once it is drafted.