Kidney stones are a major problem in Sri Lanka. It is a major cause for kidney disease and blocking the passage of urine. The calcium content of the water is most probably a major contributing factor. About 20 – 30% of the stones have to be removed either by surgical interventions or by lithotripsy. lithotripsy is a technique for treating stones in the kidney and ureter that does not require surgery. Instead, high-energy shock waves are passed through the body and used to break stones into pieces as small as grains of sand. Because of their small size, these pieces can pass from the body along with the urine. The main advantage of this treatment is that many patients may be treated for kidney stones without surgery. As a result, complications, hospital stays, costs and recovery time are significantly reduced. IMHO USA Donated a lithotripsy machine costing US $29,000.00 to the Jaffna teaching hospital.