JICA President witnesses the inauguration of Anuradhapura North Water Supply Project in CKDu prevailing area by President Ranil Wickremasinghe

On February 15, 2024, JICA President Dr. Akihiko Tanaka attended the official inauguration of Anuradhapura North Water Supply Project Phase 1 with H.E. President Ranil Wickremesinghe upon the invitation of Hon. Jeevan Thondaman, Minister of Water Supply & Estate Infrastructure Development and Hon. Shasheendra Rajapaksa, State Minister of Irrigation & Water Supply, in the presence of Hon. Shehan Semasinghe, State Minister of Finance, Hon. Mahipala Herath Governor of the North Central Province, Mr. Nishantha Ranatunga, Chairman of National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWSDB), H.E. MIZUKOSHI Hideaki, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka.

At the opening ceremony, H.E. President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized the crucial importance of providing safe drinking water as a relief to Chronic Kidney Disease of uncertain origin (CKDu) in its prevailing area and extended his gratitude for Japan’s cooperation.

In Anuradhapura North, people depended on unsafe ground water containing high fluoride and hardness, which resulted in dental and skeletal fluorosis. The seriousness of dental fluorosis in Anuradhapura district was the worst in Sri Lanka, considerably exceeding minimum safety standard. It has also been said that prevailing CKD is related to drinking unsafe ground water.

In response to those challenges, a JICA’s ODA Loan project commenced upon the request from the Government of Sri Lanka in March 2013. The Project enables 25,000 families to receive safe and sufficient drinking water. Advanced treatment process under the supervisory control using Japanese technology enables the beneficiary to continuously receive clean water with taste and odor compounds removed.

Dr. TANAKA Akihiko, President of JICA stated in the ceremony that “the project was implemented during the toughest time of Sri Lankan history due to COVID-19 and economic crisis. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all those who have contributed their time and expertise to make this project a reality, despite such challenges. It is my great pleasure to share this historical moment with the community members to whom we dedicate this Project.”