Chronic Kidney Disease Unidentified (CKDu) in Sri Lanka: Towards an Integrated Solution

This study sought to understand how the problem of the Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu), which has affected the paddy farmers in the North Central Province (NCP) of Sri Lanka is being addressed by the Government of Sri Lanka. The disease was discovered in the NCP in the mid-1990s; and since its discovery, it has found in other neighboring farming areas. The Sri Lankan Government has taken various measures to address the CKDu crisis but the spread of the disease has not been contained. My thesis is that a coordinated and bottom-up approach is the most effective way of addressing the CKDu crisis. Major findings of this study are that there is no coordination of the interventions of the various government ministries involved in combating the CKDu crisis and the contribution of degradation of environment to the problem. Remedial measures are recommended to overcome the shortcomings found.