The 62nd Reverse Osmosis plant declared open
The Sri Lanka Navy has been implementing a wide range of community service programmes for the wellbeing of civilian population, under the guidance of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne. As part of one such initiative, 3 Reverse Osmosis plants, developed by Sri Lanka Navy’s Research and Development Unit, were declared open at three separate locations today (4).
Accordingly, the facilities were declared open at Puttalam Police Station, Kattikulam in Vavuniya and Ikiriyagoda Junior School in Mahiyangana. Along with these 3 RO systems, the Navy had successfully installed 62 facilities thus far and facilitated the general public with safe drinking water free of charge.
Realizing the grave need for having more Reverse Osmosis plants in areas which are prone to Chronic Interstitial Nephritis, Sri Lanka Navy’s Research and Development Unit is very much instrumental in developing more RO systems at low cost for the use of needy people. The financial contribution for the RO plant at Puttalam Police Station was made by the Police Headquarters and the facility in Kattikulam area was installed with the financial assistance channeled through Sirasa Gammedda programme by Gabo Trust. Meanwhile, the Presidential Task Force on Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease provided finance for the system at Ikiriyagoda Junior School.
Accordingly, the new installations are capable of providing safe drinking water for 450 police personnel attached to Puttalam Police, 350 families in Kattikulam and 150 children, 11 teachers of Ikiriyagoda Junior School and 412 residents in the area. The safety compartment in which the Ikiriyagoda Junior School’s RO system is housed, was constructed by the naval Civil Engineers under the supervision of Commander South Eastern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Sumith Weerasinghe.