The Electronics Design and Innovation Centre (EDIC) Team of the University of Kelaniya won the South Asia Youth Water Challenge 2023 for one of their innovations an “Automated Stand-alone Wireless Water Quality Monitoring and Rainwater Harvesting System” where the system will automatically harvest the rainwater and direct them to different tanks according to the monitored quality. This smart system can connect arid and rural areas to the smart world by enabling real time water quality monitoring capabilities.  

The winner – Team EDIC was recognized under the Youth Water Changemakers Awards, at a ceremony organised by the Global Water Partnership at the Water Pavilion of COP 28 held in Dubai on the 11^th of December 2023. His Excellency Kefentse Mzwinila, Botswana Minister of Lands Water and Water Affairs announced the winners on behalf of the President of Botswana, H.E. Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi and Chair of the Awards. The Changemaker Awards were designed to showcase the most promising climate-resilient innovations with the greatest potential for scale, replication, and further investment to support a water-secure world. The awards are a global initiative, co-convened by GWP, K-Water, AIP and the World Bank, that recognizes high-level commitment and leadership for climate-resilient water investments.

The winner was announced at the ceremony held at the Senate Room of the University of Kelaniya on 19 December 2023 and the organisers including the Global Water Partnership South Asia (GWP SAS) and the sponsoring partner, Brandix Apparel Pvt. Ltd awarded the winning prize to the University of Kelaniya through a Memorandum of Understanding.

Present at the occasion were Senior Professor Nilanthi De Silva, Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, Mr. K. K. K. Dharmathilaka, the Registrar, members of Team EDIC – Senior Professor Sudath R. D. Kalingamudali, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Aruna Ranaweera, Coordinator, EDIC, Ms. Hiruni Wijesooriya, Mr. Pubudu Jayasekara and Mr. Tharindu Gurusinghe from the University, Mr. Lal Induruwage, Regional Coordinator and Ms. Diluka Piyasena, Communications Coordinator of Global Water Partnership South Asia, and Ms. Malika Samaraweera, Group Head of CSR and Sanduni Wijewardena, Project Lead at Brandix Apparel Pvt. Limited.

South Asia Youth Water Challenge 2023 was a collaborative effort of Global Water Partnership South Aisa and Brandix Apparel Pvt. Ltd. jointly launched in March targeting youth in South Asia and calling for ideas and innovations that catalyze Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Ensure Availability and Sustainable Management of Water and Sanitation for All in 2030. Out of 31 innovative applications received from more than 100 youth applicants in the region, Team EDIC came first and will be assisted financially to produce the tested product for the market.