Sri Lanka Water Resources Information System launched

Posted on Saturday, January 18, 2014 and filed under breakingnews , news . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 . You can leave a response or trackback to this entry from your site

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa,, officially launched a new, hi-tech information system that promises to enhance water management in the country.

President Rajapaksa officially launched the system during a special visit to International Water Management Institute (IWMI) headquarters in the country’s capital Colombo, Friday (17).

The Sri Lanka Water Resources Information System, developed by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), provides facts, figures and maps on trends in water availability, use and quality for the country, where water continues to be a critical issue.

The tool is available free online and is the first of its kind for helping scientists and policymakers in Sri Lanka to accurately monitor the dynamics of the country’s water resources. It also provides a secure platform for cooperation among all the agencies involved in water management to share their data.

“It is a great honor for IWMI to welcome President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka at our headquarters, and to formally launch the Sri Lanka Water Resources Information System,” said Jeremy Bird, Director General, IWMI.

“While many parts of Sri Lanka have an abundance of water resources, huge areas experience water scarcity and hence competition among the uses for people’s individual needs and livelihoods, food production, industry, tourism as well the country’s stunning wildlife. Growing threats from climate change will intensify that competition, which means that it is more important than ever to manage water resources efficiently and sustainably.”

“Tools such as the information system play a part in supporting Sri Lanka’s continued development, economic growth and future prosperity.”

The IWMI, found in 1984, has done extensive work with irrigation reform and led the way for new and improved design, operation and maintenance of irrigation systems throughout Asia and Africa.

Ministers Dinesh Gunawardena, Susil Premajayantha and Sarath Amunugama, Deputy Ministers Nirupama Rajapaksa and Geethanjana Gunawardena, and Secretary to the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources Management A. Abeygunawardena were present at the occasion.