On 28 November Cap-Net Lanka in collaboration with the Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture (PGIA), Water Resources Science and Technology (WRST) and Lanka Jalani (Sri Lanka Water Partnership) organised the Urban Water and Coastal Zone Management Symposium at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo, Sri Lanka. The activity was aligned with UNDP’s “Water and Ocean Governance Programme”. More than 50 participants attended the event from relevant institutions. Dr. S. Pathmarajah, Country Manager, Cap-Net Lanka, coordinated the event.
Mr. Lim Chow Hoc, Manager of MyCDNet -Cap-Net Network from Malaysia,delivered a guest speech on “Coastal Reservoirs”. Dr. Terni Pradeep Kumara, General Manager, Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), delivered a keynote speech on “Marine Pollution” and Mr. Gamini Hewage, Director, Coastal Resource Management of the Cost Conservation Department (CCD), was invited to present on “Coastal Water Pollution and Management Interventions”. A panel discussion on “Issues and Essence of Urban Water and Coastal Zone Management” was held with the participation of managerial level officials from Government and Non-governmental organizations.
Winners of the contest Aqua Republica – 2019; St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy and Rambewa Central College, Anuradhapura, were awarded trophies and certificates at this event. Students of Rambewa Central College have obtained a score of 246,858, which was the highest score achieved since the competition was introduced in Sri Lanka by Cap-Net Lanka in 2016.
The symposium clearly recognised that policies and plans to protect the urban waters and coastal zones are already available; what is lacking is action which require political will and financial assistance.
