National workshop in management of groundwater resources

Ariyawansa JAYAWEERA, Kandy Special Corr.

KANDY: A team of South African experts will be arriving in the island today (Monday) to conduct a "National workshop On Assessment, Evaluation and Management of Groundwater Resources" to be held from December 5 to 10 at the University of Peradeniya which is arranged in collaboration with the Post Graduate Institute of Science (PGIS), University of Peradeniya, Institute of Groundwater Studies, University of the Free States, South Africa the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Sri Lanka and the South African Water Supply and Drainage Board, Sri Lanka and the South Africa Water Sector.

The Five day workshop will focus on the efficient and effective use of Groundwater to support the reconstruction and redevelopment in the tsunami affected areas and to assist Sri Lanka in meeting the Millennium Development Goals as part of South-South Co-operation.

Under the tsunami support programme, South Africa has already conducted a number of training sessions to capacitate Geo-hydrologist at the National Water Supply And Drainage Board in the latest technology in the location of boreholes in difficult hydrogeological conditions.

Kalinga Pelpola, Programme Manager for South African Government, will be delivering a paper on the Importance of groundwater as an essential component of Water Management as the guest of honour.

This will be followed by the key note address by Governor of the Central Province Tikiri Kobbakaduwa at the inaugural session.

Since the government of Nelson Mandela came in to power in 1994, South Africa has made great strides in the provision of water and sanitation and they have halved the water backlog 14 years ahead of the Millennium Development Goals.

Following the United Nations Aid Conference held in Jakarta last year, South Africa agreed to assist with the re-construction and re-development of tsunami affected areas in Sri Lanka.

A highly successful National workshop on Water for Growth and Development was held last September under the auspices of Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply followed by a provincial workshop in Hambantota.

At those workshops, Recommendations from the 4th World Water Forum and Experiences gained in water resources reform in South Africa were shared to assist in the efficient and effective water management towards ensuring sustainable supply to the farmers and meeting the strategic development priorities.

Considering groundwater is an essential component of water management within the principle of conjunctive use of water, the five-day workshop will add skills to the Geo-hydrologist in Sri Lanka to assist with the effective the efficient location of boreholes in the redevelopment of tsunami affected areas.

Messers Gerrit Van. Tonder, Danie Vermeulen , Ingrid Dennis are among the South African water sector experts expected to arrive in Sri Lanka today.