Srilanka, March 2 -- At the end of 2024, Chinese scientist Wei Yuansong received an extraordinary honour: a set of commemorative stamps issued by Sri Lanka featuring his portrait.

This rare tribute recognised his decade-long commitment to providing communities with safe drinking water and fostering scientific collaboration between China and Sri Lanka. The connection of Wei, a leading expert in water pollution control, with Sri Lanka began in 2013 when S.K. Weragoda, a Sri Lankan researcher trained in China's water and sanitation program, sought his assistance in addressing a pressing public health crisis: Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu).

Since 1990, CKDu had affected over 40,000 people in Sri Lanka, with early studies...