Lankans can be proud of great hydraulic engineering feats - Urban Development Minister

Dharme Sri Abeyrathne

Colombo: Sri Lanka has a glorious history in hydraulic engineering second to none, Minister of Urban Development and Water Supply Dinesh Gunawardena said.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of WEDC International conference on sustainable development of water resources, water supply and environmental sanitation at the BMICH, Colombo on Monday the Minister said: "When it comes to our prosperity in the sphere of agriculture going back to ancient times it is very clear that the country possessed a hydraulic engineering system which we all can be proud of".

The conference focused on best practises on the sustainable use of water resources, the sustainable supply of portable water to rural, urban and displaced communities, environmentally sound sanitation strategies and how these can assist in improving health, sustaining livelihood and alleviation poverty in a low-income country such as Sri Lanka.

Over 200 foreign delegates from Asia, Africa and Europe attended the conference which will provide a global forum for practitioners, policy makers, academics and researchers from a wide range of disciplines in the water and environmental sanitation sectors to meet and share their experiences.

The Minister further stated that, when they speak about the concept of the tank, temple, school and village culture, it indicates that Sri Lankans had treated water as a treasured resource. In the Dry Zone there are hundreds of tanks and reservoirs which were used to obtain the maximum use of water resource. Those tanks have been inter connected with each other as a network, he said.

Speaking on environmental sanitation, Minister Gunawardene said that novel and innovative ideas would pave the way to sustainable development of environmental sanitation of the world. Furthermore the new findings will be of low cost and technically and socially accessible. Prof. J.B. Dissanayake making a presentation on 'Sri Lankan Water Heritage mentioned that life begins, continues and ends with water. We are well aware, human beings are surrounded with water even in their mother's womb and the greater part of the physical body consists of water.

Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne delivering the keynote address, stated that in Sri Lanka as a guest comes to the house a clean glass of water is offered. When one leaves the house at an auspicious time someone is made to walk with a glass of water to become the first to meet him. If a woman with a pot full of water meets you as you leave the house that is supposed to be a sign of success on your journey.