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| Sunday, 26 March 2006 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Safe water a basic need The Sri Lanka Bottle Water Association (SLBWA) was launched on World Water Day on Wednesday to provide safe drinking water for all. Since contaminated water is a serious health hazard to the public, the need for safe water is a basic requirement, President SLBWA, Anura Kumarasinghe said. He said clean water is reducing in the world and the number of those falling ill has increased. Water related diseases such as diarrhoea, typhoid, hepatitis and dysentery have caused health problems. It is the poorer countries that are the most affected, Kumarasinghe said. He said certain areas of the country do not have access to clean drinking water. People in remote areas have to drink water which is often contaminated and this has affected children's health, he said. Kumarasinghe said the SLBWA was formed to provide safe water for everyone. The formation of the Association follows the initiative taken by Minister of Health, Nimal Siripala de Silva to gazette guidelines for the regulation of the Bottle Water Industry. Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) Director Dr. A. R. L. Wijesekera said what concerns him most was the packaging to avoid adulteration, refilling and contamination. Traders who try to tamper with the bottles should be penalised, he said. He said there are over 250 bottle water manufacturers but only 41 have obtained SLs certification. The Minister said that while the Bottle Water Industry is a service to the people, it should ensure that it meets the required standards. While caring for the health of Sri Lankans the industry should also sustain an healthy export market, the Minister said. (LF) |
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