Japan donates gully suckers

The Government of Japan yesterday handed over nine Gully Suckers (sewage cleaning trucks) and 30 water tanks to Sri Lanka, for improvement of sanitation in tsunami affected areas.

They are expected to be distributed to the worst Tsunami affected districts such as Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Hambantota, Matara and Galle. Soon after the Tsunami disaster, the Government of Sri Lanka made a request to the Embassy of Japan to provide Gully Suckers required for cleaning of sewers, to meet the additional demand that arose as a result of the Tsunami.

The Tsunami devastation left almost all cities' sewer systems clogged with seawater and as a result most domestic sewer units were exposed to street drainage, posing a threat to the health of the displaced people.

In addition, the septic tanks of the toilets provided at the camps for the displaced require frequent cleaning to maintain good sanitary conditions in the camps. The cleaning equipment available with the Government was insufficient to meet emergency situations.

The Government of Japan responding to the request collaborated with the Japanese Local Government of Yokohama City in accordance with the current Japanese Grant Scheme. The nine Gully Suckers were subsequently donated by the Yokohama City to the people of Sri Lanka.

The handing over ceremony took place at the National Water Supply and Drainage Board. Present at this occasion were Akio Suda, Ambassador of Japan, Dinesh Gunawardene, Minister of Urban Development and Water Supply, S. L. Seneviratne, Chairman, National Water Supply and Drainage Board and M. Wickramage, General Manager, National Water Supply and Drainage Board.