Small Group Obstructs Clean Drinking Water Supply to Kilinochchi Residents: Chandrakumar

24-Nov-2025

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A small group backed by a political faction involved in unlawful activities in the Kilinochchi district is obstructing efforts to provide clean drinking water to the people of Kilinochchi. As a result, the residents of this district are facing serious health risks and hardships, while the district’s development has also been hindered, former Member of Parliament and General Secretary of the Samathuvak Katchi, M. Chandrakumar, stated.

He made these remarks at a media briefing held at his Kilinochchi office. He further noted:

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board obtains water from the Kilinochchi Tank, purifies it, and supplies it as drinking water. However, the Kilinochchi Tank has become a receptacle for all waste generated in the Kilinochchi town. Through the Raye Aru, harmful waste—including hospital waste from the Kilinochchi Hospital—flows into the tank via the Rathinapuram Bridge. Additionally, human waste from people who have encroached upon and settled in the catchment areas also ends up in the tank.

As a result, the Kilinochchi Tank has become heavily polluted. Although water is drawn from this tank and purified before distribution, the purification stations operated by the Water Supply and Drainage Board are not equipped to fully remove all contaminants. Consequently, the drinking water supplied to the people of Kilinochchi over the past several weeks has been of extremely poor quality—something well-known to the public.

Groundwater in many areas of the district has also been contaminated. Excessive use of chemicals in large-scale agricultural operations has impaired groundwater quality. Many individuals who consume this groundwater have developed chronic kidney disease. In particular, in the Kandavalai area, approximately 3% of residents have been diagnosed with kidney-related ailments, primarily attributed to contaminated drinking water. Protecting these people is a responsibility shared by all. District authorities must ensure clean and safe drinking water—thousands of lives cannot be risked for the personal interests of a few.

Currently, only 24% of Kilinochchi district residents receive piped water. Our demand is that the water supplied must be clean and safe. Anyone attempting to obstruct this must be disregarded, and responsible authorities should act to ensure the supply of safe drinking water.

While water is being supplied to the Paranthan Investment Promotion Zone, the Kautharimunai tourism site, the proposed Science City in Pallai, two major garment factories, and the Onaiyiravu salt pans—key development sites in the district—it is essential that their water needs be met without disruption. Considering all these factors, authorities must ensure a clean and safe drinking water distribution system for the district.

Therefore, I request that water extraction from the waste-laden Kilinochchi Tank be halted, and that purified water be supplied directly from the Iranamadu Tank. A small group claiming exclusive rights over the Iranamadu Tank cannot be permitted to compromise the welfare of the entire district. 

According to information obtained through the Right to Information Act, the so-called Iranamadu Farmers’ Federation is not a legally registered entity. Hence, clean water distribution to the people of Kilinochchi cannot be jeopardized based on the claims of an unregistered body. If a proper solution is not provided soon, we will be compelled to take to the streets along with the affected people, he warned.