Efforts of Sri Lanka Navy Research and Development Center to eradicate CKD (chronic kidney disease) from Sri Lanka and future of this project-By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne
WV, RWP and Bar, RSP, VSV, USP, NI (M) (Pakistan), ndc, psn, Bsc
(Hons) (War Studies) (Karachi) MPhil (Madras)
Former Navy Commander and Former Chief of Defense Staff
Former Chairman, Trincomalee Petroleum Terminals Ltd
Former Managing Director Ceylon Petroleum Corporation
Former High Commissioner to Pakistan
I have read in Weekend newspapers that government turning to Desalination plants to provide drinking water to needy people; the largest project in Jaffna estimated cost of US $ 220 million! It’s a staggering amount! What we learned from past experience is these costly desalination plants has HUDGE Operational and maintenance costs.
Below article explains that we already have a very reliable small – indefinitely built by Navy – Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purification plants (1150 already) which are easy to maintain and cost effective. I personally feel government (National Water Supply and drainage Board – NWSDB) should take over these small RO plants and run them efficiently and effectively; rather than spending colossal amounts on larger projects.
Please read below details to understand the effectiveness of this project initiated by Sri Lanka Navy in 2015.
An unknown kidney disease stated spreading, specially in North Central province of Sri Lanka like wild fire in early 2000s. Various medical researches done on this disease by experts on the subject and it was revealed that it is a waterborne disease, which spreads due to use of contaminated drinking and cooking water.
The innocent patients, specially the farmers and their families were the victims. Once you are a KDK patient, you have to go through Dialysis treatments frequently and you will not able to work. As the reason for the CKD known, Navy decided to manufacture low-cost Reverse Osmosis water treatment plants. The project stated on 22nd December 2015 by fixing first plant at Kadawath Rambawa , Madawachiya in North Central Province.
Project continued with seven Navy Commanders continuously namely, Admiral Wijegunaratne, Admiral Sinniah, Admiral Ranasinghe, Admiral De Silva, Admiral Ulugetenna, Admiral Priyantha Perera and present Commander Vice Admiral Banagoda . Navy has installed 1120 RO plants, each capable of providing 10,000 (ten thousand) liters of clean drinking and cooking water to public, FREE, DAILY!
The GPS locations of places where Navy has installed these facilities indicate in map below…
How the disease was spread as indicates below….
Now, the disease was not spreading at the rate it was spreading earlier. But, maintaining these plants and paying electricity bills cannot be done by Navy. State should have a proper system to maintain them – Navy can always provide the technical assistance/ advice- but financial burden on providing chemicals for backwash of filters in 1120 points beyond Navy’s limited budget.
However, some places various local Societies/ organizations has took over the running of the RO plants and collecting money from humble people to provide water!
I personally feel government should step in and control the RO plants from central location to keep them operational so that people get clean drinking and cooking water free daily.
For an example, there was a President Task Force to eradicate CKD was very well operated during time of President Maitreepala Sirisena, which handled this project very well. Need for such office is immediately required, otherwise this excellent project will go into natural death and CKD will start spreading again.
Moreover, Navy made 40 seawater desalination plants and fixed in Coastal areas. In Northern Area, the SLN built desalination plants in Delft Island working very well.
Please give the project to Commodore (E) DCP Dissanayake, an excellent Marine Engineer who headed the Sri Lanka Navy Research and Development Unit. He will do the needful.
WHY YOU SPEND US $ 220 million when we have capability and technology to make Desalination plants locally?
