The Swarna Hansa Foundation has, through a letter, demanded that the Minister of Irrigation and Water Management and the Commissioner General of Agrarian Development order the de-silting of all reservoirs in the North-Central Province as they have been contaminated with agro-chemicals causing kidney diseases.

Around 6,000 people suffer from chronic renal failure in the North-Central Province and although a number of medical experts, with the assistance of WHO, had been conducting research to ascertain the root cause of the kidney disease, they had not been able to find the main cause, the Foundation revealed.

Swarna Hansa Foundation President Gallege Punyawardena told The Island that comprehensive research carried out by some medical experts had revealed a possible cause for kidney disease was the dietary intake of cadmium, coupled with neglect of routine desilting of Wewas. Some research teams had openly said that all Wewas in the Province were contaminated with poisonous elements in the NCP and NWP.

He said that all Wewas in the Provices contained contaminated water and people used water from these reservoirs for cooking and drinking. The letter had alleged that the residents in the North-Central Province had become victims or were exposed to danger of being affected with chronic renal failure.

Punyawardena added that it was a responsibility of the Commissioner- General and Minister of Irrigation and Water Management to entrust statutory duties to relevant authorities, but they had failed to do so endangering lives.