Hayleys Group’s ‘Puritas Sath Diyawara’ provides purified water for CKD affected villages

Saturday, 14 March 2015 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Over 5,000 people in Pihimbiyagollewa, Kiriketuwewa and Balayawewa to benefit Three Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants sponsored by Hayleys Group of companies, Hayleys Industrial Solutions Ltd., Kelani Valley Plantations PLC and Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC and Hayleys Advantis Ltd. were launched on 10 March in Pihimbiyagollewa, Kiriketuwewa and Balayawewa in the North Central Province. This project under the banner ‘Puritas Sath Diyawara’ is the key Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative undertaken by the Hayleys Group at a cost of Rs. 21 million covering a total of six villages in the financial year 2014/2015. Studies indicate that an approximate 400,000 people are currently affected by Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), of which men between the ages of 15-60 years are the most vulnerable. Studies show that providing purified water is found to be the key solution not only to eliminate CKD but to reverse the effects of those affected by it. Commenting on the project funded by several sectors of the Hayleys Group and implemented by Puritas, the Chief Guest Hayleys Group Chairman and Chief Executive Mohan Pandithage stated, “Hayleys was among the first global corporate entities and the only Sri Lankan company 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. Therefore in 2014, we decided all community empowerment initiatives of the Group should be under varying themes related to water. Puritas Sath Diyawara is the key step towards achieving this target.” The Puritas Sath Diyawara community empowerment initiative will reach out to the people of the North Central Province who are overshadowed by CKD, via livelihood development activities, health camps, knowledge dissemination activities and education. This program will see the establishment of a library and internet facility for villagers of all ages as well. In addition, activities will be carried out to improve health and sanitation of the villagers. Sustainable environmental management programs will be encouraged by promoting best practices in agriculture, integrated farming and organic agriculture by establishing a model farm to demonstrate organic farming. Under this program, centralised water treatment plants will provide approximately 10,000 litres of purified water per day per village. Each project consists of formalised 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 RO plant previously commissioned in Maithreepura last year has helped approximately 1,500 villagers. The opening of the three new plants was graced by Directors/Group Management Committee Members/Senior Management of the Hayleys Group and key Government officials.