REVERSE OSMOSIS WATER PURIFICATION PLANT PROJECT

The Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant project was launched in 2015 with the aim of providing clean and safe drinking water to the community under the Naval Social Responsibility (NSR) project, based on the concept introduced by the Commander of the Navy. Subsequently, His Excellency the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka recognized the NSR project as a national initiative and established the Presidential Task Force for the prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Although Reverse Osmosis technology is a proven water purification method worldwide, the importation and installation of these systems would place a substantial financial burden on the country. In response, the Sri Lanka Navy developed an affordable RO plant through a dedicated research and development initiative, led by the guidance of the Commander of the Navy.[reference:0]

Access to clean drinking water has become a vital solution in combating the alarming rise of serious kidney disease across 13 districts in Sri Lanka. However, communities in remote areas, particularly in the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts, have faced severe challenges in obtaining clean water, a pressing social issue that has led to widespread illness and even loss of lives. Since the commissioning of the first Reverse Osmosis plant in Kadawathrambewa, Medawachchiya Divisional Secretariat, in December 2015, the Sri Lanka Navy, with support from local and international partners, has successfully established more than 1,155 Reverse Osmosis plants for public use. Moreover, the Navy has developed mobile emergency units to supply clean drinking water in crisis situations, ensuring that affected communities have access to safe water.[reference:1][reference:2]

This project is designed to manufacture Reverse Osmosis plants locally and make them available to communities free of charge. Through extensive research by the SLN Research & Development Unit, Sri Lanka now benefits from a low-cost, domestically-produced RO plant. While an imported system with a 10,000-liter daily output would impose a significant financial burden on the country, the Sri Lanka Navy has developed its own system at a fraction of the cost. As of May 2026, the Navy has successfully completed and handed over 1,155 RO plants to the public as part of its NSR project. Additionally, the Navy's workshop in Welisara is responsible not only for installation but also for the repair and maintenance of these plants, providing trained operators and round-the-clock repair teams.[reference:3][reference:4]

Through this sustainable domestic production, the Navy has effectively taken full responsibility for meeting a critical national need for safe drinking water. This initiative has saved an estimated national expenditure that would otherwise have been spent on imported systems. The project has also played a crucial role in public health: according to the Ministry of Health's CKD unit database, the number of kidney patients in Sri Lanka has significantly decreased since the project began, with a notable decline observed from 2018 onwards.[reference:5][reference:6]