Chaminda Ranawana, Executive Director and Director In Charge of DIMO’s Water Business, shares insights into the group’s vision to improve access to safe drinking water in Sri Lanka and the region. He begins this interview by explaining how DIMO enhances water supply and sanitation facilities in Sri Lanka, fuelling the dreams and aspirations of the communities:
DIMO, a diversified conglomerate, has expanded its business lines to address the critical need for improved access to safe drinking water. With a focus on safeguarding public health and empowering communities, DIMO recognizes that approximately 50% of the population still relies on traditional water sources, posing concerns over water purity.
As a reliable contractor supporting the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (Water Board), DIMO leverages its longstanding history of supplying dependable water pumps from KSB Germany. This partnership has naturally led to expanding DIMO’s services into turn-key projects, encompassing water resource intake, treatment, transmission and distribution.
DIMO, a diversified conglomerate, has expanded its business lines to address the critical need for improved access to safe drinking water. With a focus on safeguarding public health and empowering communities, DIMO recognizes that approximately 50% of the population still relies on traditional water sources, posing concerns over water purity
With expertise in supplying, installing, and commissioning of mechanical and electrical systems, we are driven to improve people’s lives by undertaking comprehensive water projects of any scale, covering civil, mechanical, and electrical aspects. Despite the challenging terrain, we are committed to implementing rural water supply schemes, driven by our responsibility to serve the nation and fulfil the dream of providing pure drinking water to underserved communities
DIMO has played a strategic role in water projects in close collaboration with the National Water Supply and Drainage Board of Sri Lanka. Our contributions have been significant in terms of ability, capabilities, and reliability
How does the water business vertical dovetail with your sustainability strategy and business model?
Sri Lanka is fortunate to have abundant natural water resources, including lakes, rivers, streams, and wells, except for certain regions in the north and east due to geographical factors. However, the availability of these resources has been increasingly threatened by pollution resulting from population growth and industrialization. As I mentioned earlier, one of the key challenges lies in the fact that approximately 50% of the population lacks access to sufficient water, forcing them to rely on these natural resources for their daily needs, which inadvertently contributes to pollution. Furthermore, the actions of some industrial facilities across the country, lacking proper treatment and disposal facilities, also contribute to water pollution.
To address this situation, the Water Board has developed a well-articulated primary plan aimed at supplying access to safe drinking water for the entire country or 95% of the population. Recently, the primary plan underwent revisions, with a greater emphasis on sustainability through energy efficiency, sustainable power sources, water recycling, and the use of highly efficient equipment.
In this context, DIMO’s business model aligns perfectly with these needs. As a sustainability-driven company, DIMO is committed to achieving sustainable goals by supplying ultramodern technology, highly efficient equipment, and cutting-edge water treatment technologies.
We believe that our contribution to improving water supply and sanitation programs will help reduce pollution by reducing dependence on natural water resources when at least 75% of the population has access to piped water. Our dedicated focus on this business segment aims to sustain the resources we are blessed with from time immemorial.
Also, DIMO frequently conducts knowledge-sharing programmes, local and overseas training and on-site demonstrations to the officials of the Water Board, together with its technical partners mostly from Europe to up-skill the technical know-how while infusing the latest cutting-edge technology to Sri Lanka. Such new technology and concepts are always ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) driven which in turn will elevate the local water industry to greater sustainability where DIMO’s contribution in this context deserves greater recognition.
DIMO has been working closely with the National Water Supply and Drainage Board of Sri Lanka and has completed many water projects. Could you elaborate on the company’s strategic role and contributions to these projects?
DIMO has played a strategic role in water projects in close collaboration with the National Water Supply and Drainage Board of Sri Lanka. Our contributions have been significant in terms of ability, capabilities, and reliability.
The Water Board sought DIMO as a dependable contractor capable of offering competitive rates. Our extensive experience and EM-1 grading as an electrical and mechanical contractor made us an ideal choice. Initially running as a C-4 and EM-1 graded contractor, we undertook small integrated water supply schemes in 2016. Through continuous growth, experience accumulation, and strong partnerships with the Water Board, DIMO has now achieved the prestigious C-1 and EM-1 grading, highlighting our ability and suitability for these national projects.
Our strength lies in our ability to bid on contracts of any size and effectively manage financial resources from DIMO’s end until payment realization. We have a skilled team of professionals capable of executing projects at various locations, ensuring reliability and efficiency. DIMO’s ability to provide designs, and cost estimates, propose suitable brands, and manage supply chains have been pivotal to our success in tender processes with the Water Board. Our high accreditation in civil engineering (Cl) and EM1 grading in Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) have also contributed to our achievements, cementing our commitment to delivering high-quality solutions and continually enhancing our capabilities to support the Water Board’s water projects effectively.
DIMO being the house for many German reputed industrial equipment, our technical-commercial proposals carry such advanced equipment, designs and integrations. Given the long-term benefits that such technology would bring to the Water Board, during the technical evaluation of tenders DIMO is well placed enabling most of the projects to fall in our way, a strategy that works in out-performing the competition at the life cycle cost evaluation of projects.
What are the growth prospects and innovations in the industry that DIMO is considering?
Access to clean and portable water is a crucial and fundamental need for the people of Sri Lanka, and we believe that the government, regardless of who is in power, will recognize this necessity and develop comprehensive plans and procedures to implement projects that aim to provide at least 95% of the population with access to water within a specific timeframe. In this context, we expect the country will reintroduce initiatives like the “Water for All” scheme, which was previously started by the Water Board before the country faced its crisis. Implementing these projects will help the nation as a whole. It is commendable that the Water Board has revamped the Water for All scheme as Capacity Enhancement and Distribution ( CED ) to keep the momentum going despite the prevailing economic downturn.
To contribute to this development, DIMO is actively setting up partnerships with industry leaders worldwide to introduce advanced technologies to Sri Lanka, specifically to the Water Board. We are also enhancing our human resource capabilities to supply better services in civil projects. Some of the areas we believe the Water Board will focus on soon include the introduction of digitalized water meters, energy-efficient pumping stations, supplying water to commercial and tourist areas, and addressing non-revenue water issues.
For over five decades, DIMO has been a trusted partner of KSB Germany, offering energy-efficient and reliable pumps for various applications with a track record of success with the Water Board. Additionally, we have supplied many water treatment solutions from our esteemed principals, such as EVOQUA and SPARKELE, including Reverse Osmosis plants, MBBR (Membrane Bioreactors) wastewater plants, and traditional chlorination systems.
Beyond Sri Lanka, what are DIMO’s plans for expanding its Water Business vertical?
DIMO is rapidly expanding its international presence, currently in four countries. Our primary focus is on the Maldives, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, where we see significant prospects for growth. We have completed several projects in these countries and plan to further increase our project portfolio shortly. To support our expansion, we have strategically stationed our staff, particularly in the Maldives and Bangladesh, to broaden our horizons. We expect substantial business growth in these countries, as they face a pressing need for access to clean water, surpassing that of Sri Lanka.
DIMO is rapidly expanding its international presence, currently in four countries. Our primary focus is on the Maldives, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, where we see significant prospects for growth. We have completed several projects in these countries and plan to further increase our project portfolio shortly