At a seminar to show the progress made in development projects carried out by the Government in Anuradhapura, Minister of Indigenous Medicine Tissa Karaliyadda said that his Ministry had been allocated over 320 million rupees in the 2010 Budget and sixty million rupees from this allocation had been to enhance the community health services of the North Central province. Eight million rupees would be spent to control chronic renal diseases that had affected Anuradhapura and several other areas in the province for years.

The seminar was a part of a field trip organised by the Information Department to explain the development projects launched by the govenment.

"One measure we have taken to control the spread of the renal disease in the NCP, is to promote the use of clay pots rather than aluminum utensils for cooking. There are over 24 villages in the district that make clay pots for cooking. Each set of clay utensils, is purchased by the Ministry at a cost of Rs. 300. Over 75,000 families had been given a set of clay pots each. At least one member in the family has been affected with a renal disease," the minister said.

The field trip included a visit to a Mahakanadara Wewa gipsey village with 35 families. They spoke Telingu. There were over forty children in the village. Many attended the Siyambalagaswewa school. The Ministry of Nation Building had provided the Divisional Secretariat with six million rupees to build 27 houses for these families. The project, which commenced two years ago, however, has not yet been completed. Many of the houses were without a roof or a suitable floor.

The group also visited the automated Thuruwila Water Treatment Plant which provides water to the Anuradhapura District.

The Kidney Diseases and Transplant Centre (KDTC) affiliated to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital was also visited.

It includes wards complex, theater complex, Haemodialysis Unit, Peritoneal Dialysis Unit and the clinics conducted to treat several ailments. Deputy Director of the Centre, H. A. Karunatilake said that the French Government had provided a donation for theatre equipment.

The KDTC was built at a cost of Rs. 450 million. It requires another Rs. 100 million to be completed.