Brandix donates Rs. 25m water research and training centre

Brandix Lanka Limited, the country's largest apparel exporter, donated to the government a purpose-built training and laboratory complex dedicated to improving the quality of potable water in the North Central province.

Constructed and equipped at a cost of Rs. 25 million by Brandix in partnership with GAP inc. USA for and in consultation with the Water Resources Board (WRB) the Water Resources Research and Training Centre in Korakahawewa, six kilometres from Anuradhapura will conduct training and educational programs on the ill-effects of the consumption of contaminated drinking water and on the use of cheap but effective purification and filtration techniques.

Irrigation and Water Management Minister and Minister of Ports and Aviation Chamal Rajapaksa said the Government was deeply appreciative of the sense of purpose and empathy with the community displayed by Brandix in funding the construction of the Centre as a corporate social responsibility initiative.

This project Minister Rajapaksa said, is an example of the meaningful results that can be achieved through private and public sector partnership, for the uplift of living conditions in rural Sri Lanka. The Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is committed to facilitating such partnerships and would study the results achieved by the Centre for possible replication in other parts of the country, he said.

Water Resources Board Chairman Prof. M. de S. Liyanage said the Centre will play a catalytic role in making water quality a priority for the people of Anuradhapura, and would be a valuable resource to the country as a whole. The testing facilities of the Laboratory at the Centre would be made available to other institutions, and researchers to test water quality, he said.