Hayleys Group’s ‘PuritasSathDiyawara’ opens two Reverse Osmosis plants for CKD affected villages in the Northern & North Central Provinces
Residents of two impoverished villages, Welioya in the Northern Province (NP) and Billewa in the North Central Province (NCP) now have access to over 20,000 liters of clean drinking water per day, with the commissioning of two centralized Reverse Osmosis (RO) Plants. The RO plants, sponsored by Hayleys Agriculture and AlumexPLC were launched on 3rd September 2015 through‘PuritasSathDiyawara’, the Group’s key Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
Studies indicate that approximately 400,000 people are currently affected by CKD, of which men between the ages of 15 – 70 years are the most vulnerable. Studies show that providing purified water is found to be the key solution not only to eliminate CKD but to reverse the effects of those affected by it.
The Hayleys Group has invested approximately Rs. 21 million (210 lakhs) in commissioning a total of six RO plants in the NP and NCP to date, giving over 9,000residents includingMaithreepura, Pihimbiyagollewa, Kiriketuwewa and Balayawewaaccess to clean drinking water.
Each project consists of formalized water distribution network through a bowser and multiple docking stations throughout the village to ensure all villagers have equal access to purified water. Surveys will be conducted on a regular basis to monitor the benefits of this initiative. In addition, the project will provide livelihood development activities, promote appropriate health & sanitation practices and awareness and knowledge dissemination.
Eng. KarunasenaHettiarachchi, Secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development, Water Supply & Drainage, Mr. Mohan Pandithage, Chairman and Chief Executive of Hayleys Group along with the participation of Directors/ Group Management Committee Members / Senior Management of the Hayleys Group and key government officials graced the opening of the two new plants.
Commenting on the initiative carried-out by Hayleys Group, Secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development, Water Supply & DrainageEng. KarunasenaHettiarachchi stated “The private sector participation in the National program to combat the CKDu is highly appreciated by His Excellency the President, Hon. MaithripalaSirisena. The contribution of Puritas – Hayleys has helped immensely and the government is thankful”
Chairman & Chief Executive of Hayleys Group, Mr. Mohan Pandithage speaking at the commissioning of the plants said,“We are very happy on this occasion to provide clean drinking water to this village and 14 other villages like this, touching the lives of over 18,000 individuals at a cost of over Rs. 35mn.We want to see the villagers lives uplifted and see the positive effects these RO plants are having on the health and lives of the villagers”
Hayleys is among the first global corporate entities and the only Sri Lankan company to endorse the CEO Water Mandate of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), a call to action and a strategic framework to make sustainable water resources management a priority for businesses world-wide. Therefore since 2014, all community empowerment initiatives of the Group are under varying themes related to water, and ‘PuritasSathDiyawara’ is the key step towards achieving this target.
