President declares open two Reverse Osmosis plants at the University of Jaffna
 

His Excellency the President, Maithripala Sirisena ceremonially declared open two Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants set up at the University of Jaffna yesterday (2). Under the visionary concept of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, these RO systems were produced and installed by the Sri Lanka Navy’s Research and Development Unit.

Along with the financial support of the Presidential Task Force on Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention, the Navy's Research and Development Unit managed to set up these two facilities within a very short period of time. The two housings which are needed for the safety of the two systems were designed and constructed by the officers and sailors of Navy’s Civil Engineering branch, under the guidance of Commander Northern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva.

Renal disease has been identified as a widespread threat found in 11 districts in Sri Lanka. The Presidential Task Force on Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention has been installing RO systems in view of providing safe drinking water for the general public across the country. Also as a medium scale project, this magnanimous effort is being initiated in many areas of the country with a view to protect the school children and poor civilian community, while producing RO systems under low cost. This noble cause marked as the very first initiative of this kind in Jaffna area and the Navy had installed 32 RO systems across the country to date.

The occasion was attended by the Ven. Maha Sangha, other clergy, Governor of the Northern Province, Hon Reginald Cooray, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, Vice Chancellor of University of Jaffna, Vasanthy Arasaratnam, Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasunsara, Project Director, Presidential Task Force on Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease, Mr. Asela Iddawela, Commander Northern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva, senior officers, distinguished invitees and students of the university.