Laugfs Eco Sri recently marked another important milestone in its Clean Drinking Water project, successfully completing its third phase by setting up clean and safe drinking water facilities at the Sivalakulama Seevali Maha Vidyalaya in Galenbindunuwewa, Anuradhapura.

The project infrastructure, which was funded and constructed by Eco Sri, included the installation of a water tank, filter system, renovation of the school water well, and the installation of the tap system. The facilities are expected to provide much needed safe, clean water for over 500 students of the school, and many more in the future.

A ceremony to hand over the newly built facility took place at the school premises with the presence of students, teachers, parents as well as government officials including the Zonal Director of Education and the Laugfs Eco Sri team. The Clean Drinking Water Project is yet another long-term initiative undertaken by Laugfs Eco Sri, as part of its commitment to help address critical social and health issues in the communities it operates. This project strives to facilitate purified drinking water to schools in rural areas of Sri Lanka, especially targeting areas with widespread health concerns arising from the lack of access to clean and safe drinking water. The project has thus far established facilities for rural schools in Dehiattakandiya and Thanthirimale in the Anuradhapura District. The infrastructure set up by Eco Sri in these schools are geared towards pumping, storing and dispensing of clean water that is purified, eliminating any chemical component harmful to human health. This brings much needed relief to thousands of students in schools that do not have access to water from the national grid. Laugfs Eco Sri’s water projects involve the drilling of deep wells and installation of water purification grids.

The facility at Sivalakulama Seevali Maha Vidyalaya, which marked the third phase of the project, was set up at an investment of approximately Rs. 1.5 million. The initiative was funded by the LAUGFS management through personal donations, as well as through a fund-raising drive organized by the Eco Sri team, with the sale of specially designed wrist bands through its Eco Sri centers spread across the country. Over 20,000 wrist bands were sold, enabling thousands of people to become a part of this worthy cause, making a positive impact on the quality of life and future health of thousands of children. “Clean drinking water is a life’s essential, but unfortunately it’s not freely available in many parts of the country, especially in the rural areas of the North Central province and the Eastern parts of the country,” commented a spokesperson for Laugfs Eco Sri. “Poor water quality and pesticide residues in water results in many fatal illnesses including cholera, typhoid and kidney diseases. Almost 90 percent of children in the rural areas do not have access to clean drinking water. Although, some schools do have wells, the quality and suitability for human consumption of the water in these wells is questionable,” he further commented.