Expolanka provides clean water to schoolchildren

Expolanka Holdings has provided RO water purification solutions to four schools in the Anuradhapura district to help address the current Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) crisis in a meaningful manner.

Over 3,000 schoolchildren at Vidyadarsha MahaVidyalaya, Nochchiyagama, Rahula MahaVidyalaya, Yaya, Rajanganaya, KarapittakadaVidyalaya, Karapittakada, Medawachchiya and KoongollawaVidyalaya, Etawiragollawa, Medawachchiya will benefit from this endeavour.

"The North Central Province faces a gargantuan challenge due to the high number of CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) cases coupled with the high mortality rate. This is a tragic situation that needs assistance from all corners of the island," said Head of Marketing, Corporate Communications and CSR, Paddy Weerasekera.

"As a responsible business entity, we contribute in our own way by providing access to clean water to several schools in the affected area. I hope our assistance proves worthwhile to the children in these schools and helps reduce the risk of CKD," he said.

A World Health Organisation (WHO) investigation revealed that 15.3% of the people in the North Central region are affected by CKD. The disease was first identified in 1991 in the Anuradhapura district and since then thousands of people of the area had succumbed to the disease. Lack of access to clean drinking water is believed to be a contributing factor to the prevalence of CKD in the area. The WHO recommends providing access to safe drinking water along with better health facilities and financial support to affected areas to decrease the risk of CKD.