Chinese scientists have conducted a study on Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka in collaboration with a team of local scientists.
The team of scientists who conducted the study called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at Temple Trees on Wednesday (10) and said the final report of the study will be submitted shortly.
The Chinese government, in addition to assisting the research, extended a grant for a water purification project in CKDu-affected districts in Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister thanked China for the grant extended for water purification and research on water-borne diseases in Sri Lanka, which was initiated when he was the Minister of Water Supply. Prof. Min Yang, Head of the Research Centre for Eco Environmental Sciences in China, said that under the China–Sri Lanka Research Grant Project, a fully-fledged research centre for water technology has been set up in Kandy under the name China–Sri Lanka Joint Research and Demonstration Centre (JRDC) for Water Technology.
JRDC Director Dr. S.K. Weragoda said the Centre would collaborate with Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) as its insights and guidance would be invaluable in shaping the trajectory of the JRDC.
The research on CKDu was undertaken as it caused a new public health challenge in selected geographic areas of the country, primarily in the north central and eastern dry zones.
Prof S.H.P.P. Karunaratne said that the research has verified that kidney diseases were due to the presence of calcium and fluoride in groundwater in the dry zone.
The Prime Minister said further research must be undertaken as the presence of excessive metal contents in water could be due to the use of chemical fertilizer in upcountry plantations for centuries as the rivers begin from the hill country.
MP Yadamini Gunawardena, Prime Minister’s Secretary Anura Dissanayake and National Science Foundation Chairman Prof. Ranjith Senaratne took part in the discussion.
The Chinese delegation included Deputy Ambassador of China Zhu Yanwei and Prof. Yuansong Wei of the Research Centre for Eco Environmental Sciences and other leading scientists and engineers.
