Hayleys Group presents water purification plants

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 litres of clean drinking water per day, with the commissioning of two centralized Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants.

The RO plants, sponsored by Hayleys Agriculture and Alumex PLC were launched recently through Puritas Sath Diyawara, the Group's 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 are the most vulnerable. Purified water is the solution not only to eliminate CKD but also to reverse the effects of those affected by it.

The Hayleys Group has invested approximately Rs. 21 million in commissioning six RO plants in the NP and NCP to date, giving over 9,000 residents including Maithreepura, Pihimbiyagollewa, Kiriketuwewa and Balayawewa access to clean drinking water.

Each project consists of a 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.

The project will also introduce livelihood development, promote appropriate health and sanitation practices and awareness and knowledge dissemination.

Chairman and Chief Executive of Hayleys Group, Mohan Pandithage 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 level of villagers lives uplifted and see the positive effects these RO plants have on the health and lives of the villagers."

Hayleys is among the first global corporate entities 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 worldwide.