On February 1, 2023, the inaugural ceremony for the certificate course jointly developed by KDU and the Water board was held at the Centre of Excellence for Water and Sanitation (CEWAS) in Ratmalana.
The collaborative agreement between KDU and NWSDB, which was signed in December 2022, led to the development of the joint course. The certificate course is designed to target working professionals looking to gain in-depth industry knowledge in the field of water and sanitation. It will provide individuals with the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the operations of water and sanitation systems and acquire practical skills in the domain of water and sanitation.

Dr Wasantha Illangasinghe, General Manager of NWSDB, Dean of Technology, Dr KMGP Premadasa, and other dignitaries attended the ceremony. Dr. Washantha Illangasinghe stated during her speech that they intend to establish standards for managing and maintaining wastewater treatment plants in Sri Lanka. This certificate course will serve as a starting point for professionals in Sri Lanka to receive suitable training and assistance in order to set those standards. She further stated that joining academic experts at KDU will add value to the training. The Dean Faculty of Technology, Dr KMGP Premadasa, commented that KDU, as a leading state university, adds value to the certificate programme. and that there should be no reservations about the course's quality or acceptance everywhere. He also added that KDU intends to provide more opportunities for students who complete the course to pursue higher education if they wish to develop more skills and knowledge in this field.

Overall, it is hoped that the certificate course will create a new platform for professionals and organizations to develop expertise and share best practices in the water and sanitation industry.