Anitha Sivanathan

Sri Lankan inventor creating sustainable solutions for disaster zones

Anitha Sivanathan is a 25-year-old Sri Lankan innovator whose portable water purification system has brought clean drinking water to over 200,000 people in disaster-stricken regions. Her invention, the CleanSip device, uses graphene oxide filters to purify contaminated water in just 3 minutes - a breakthrough recognized by UNESCO's 2022 International Water Prize. This lightweight device operates without electricity, making it ideal for remote areas affected by floods or earthquakes.

After the 2021 Easter bombings in Colombo, Sivanathan deployed CleanSip units in 15 temporary shelters, reducing waterborne diseases by 70%. Her work with Relief Tech Global has expanded to Indonesia, the Philippines, and Haiti, where she trains local communities to assemble and maintain the devices. In 2023, she launched the Women Innovators Fellowship, mentoring 300 female engineers across South Asia.

Sivanathan's TEDx talk "The 3-Minute Water Solution" has garnered over 2 million views. Her current project involves developing solar-powered CleanSip 2.0 with integrated IoT monitoring, supported by grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Time Magazine named her one of 2023's 100 Most Influential People for her 'quiet revolution in global health infrastructure.'