Sunday Times 2
IWMI exhibition: ‘Water in Sri Lanka’
View(s):The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) launched an exhibition on ‘Water in Sri Lanka’ at the Lighthouse Galley last week. The exhibition will tour the country throughout 2015, starting at the World Trade Center in Colombo in May, and then moving on to Kandy, Jaffna and Galle. Venues will be announced in the local press.
“Managing Sri Lanka’s water sustainably in the face of increasing demands and a changing climate will be one of the defining challenges of the next few decades,” said Jeremy Bird, Director General, IWMI, who launched the exhibition. “However, thanks to strong partnerships with the Government of Sri Lanka and other stakeholders in the sector, we are optimistic for a water-secure future for the island. We hope that this exhibition can shed a little light on what the issues are, and how the work of IWMI and others can help find equitable and enduring solutions.”
Karunasena Hettiarachchi, Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage, thanked IWMI for its efforts over the last three decades, and looked forward to continued cooperation between the Institute and its Sri Lankan partners.
Founded in 1985, IWMI is a non-profit, scientific research organisation focusing on the sustainable use of water and land resources in developing countries and emerging economies. Over 60 representatives of IWMI’s partners and stakeholders attended the launch of the exhibition. Mr. Bird handed over the first of 100 water testing kits for schools to Imali Perera, Environmental Pioneer Student Program Coordinating Teacher, Ananda Sastralaya -Kotte, and Jayanthi Pinnagoda, Deputy Principal, Vidura College – Colombo. The kits, acquired as part of an initiative by IWMI and the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), are designed to raise awareness of water quality issues and help students develop their skills in environmental science.