A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperative Programme  on Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Aetiology was signed between Sri Lanka and Australia

November 5, 2019

A  Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sri Lankan Presidential Taskforce for Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO) on a Cooperative Programme  on Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Aetiology, was signed on  4^th November 2019 in Canberra.

The High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Australia, Mr. J.C.Weliamuna (PC), and Dr Adrian Paterson, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO),   signed  the  MOUat the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Canberra.

This event was attended by Mr. Steve MacIntosh , Senior Manager, Government & International Affairs  of ANSTO; Lalita Kapur, Director and Dananthi Galapitage, Assistant  Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs  & Trade (DFAT) representing  the Government of Australia. Mr. Asela Iddawela, Project Director, Presidential Taskforce on Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease represented Sri Lanka.

This MoU affirms the continued collaboration between Sri Lanka and Australia to address Chronic Kidney Disease prevalent in some provinces of Sri Lanka. This MoU allows Sri Lanka to make use of ANSTO’s scientific infrastructure and methods to support further research in to CKDu. Areas of focus for collaboration under the terms of this MoU include: Establishing a baseline for normal kidney function in Sri Lanka; Studying nutritional transfer and environmental exposure in mothers and infants; completing a comprehensive study of drinking water from domestic wells in CKDu – affected communities and Contributing to the training and development of Sri Lankan students and early career researchers. The first MoU between these two parties with regard to CKDu was signed in May 2017.

 

High Commission of Sri Lanka, Canberra

04^th November 2019