JICA supports Milco factory in Digana to find solutions to wastewater problem

A wastewater treatment plant constructed at Milco factory Digana under JICA assistance was ceremonially opened on 20 October by Minister of Rural Economic Affairs P. Harrison and Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka Kenichi Suganuma. 

Mahaweli Development and Environment Deputy Minister Anuradha Jayaratna, JICA Sri Lanka Office Chief Representative Kiyoshi Amada, Ministry of Rural Economic Affairs Secretary B.K.R. Ekanayaka, Milco Chairman Keerthi Mihiripenna, Milco GM M.A.S. Munasinghe, CEA Chairman Prof. Lal Mervin Dharmasiri, Huens Co. Ltd. Chairman Moriyoshi Shitara and Kumagai Gumi Senior Managing Director Susumu Ogawa also graced this occasion. 

JICA extended support for construction of wastewater treatment at Milco Digana factory though Japanese private company, Huens Co., Ltd. The company adopted ‘Ozone Oxidation Method Using Swirling Jet,’ a technology developed by Huens Co., Ltd. Though the ozone treatment is common for treatment of waste water, this particular type of treatment is a patented technology of HUENS. The technology is possible to treat wastewater with highest efficiency and more energy-saving than other conventional methods, and has been put into use at approximately 100 projects in Japan and overseas.

The project created benefits for Milco (beneficiary), Central Environment Authority (regulator), local community living in the vicinity of the plant (stakeholder), and downstream of Mahaweli river users (stakeholder)

Milco is the premier dairy producer in Sri Lanka with over 55% of the market share in locally processed dairy products. Milco Factory at Digana had been facing serious problems in meeting environmental standards for discharged wastewater stipulated by CEA until Milco commissions the waste water treatment constructed under JICA assistance. JICA is very much happy to join hands with Sri Lanka’s economic development agenda in the needy area in the right time, Kiyoshi Amada, Chief Representative of JICA said.