Water Matters - News of IWMI Research in Sri Lanka
		Issue 7, 2012 ; Editor : Herath Manthrithilake Download PDF [1.64 MB]  Editorial I spent an interesting evening at the Open Air Theatre in Viharamahadevi Park in March, watching the launch of the 'Ripples on Water' campaign. The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) took an innovative approach in raising awareness on water issues with this campaign, which creatively combines art, science and development in a manner that engages audiences to understand the importance of managing water better. CONTENTS Editorial-Ripples on Water (p.2) / Wells and cells invigorate village agriculture (p.3) / IWMI hosts SARCRH office (p.4) / Urban agriculture gets policy-level support in Sri Lanka's Western Province (p.5) / Opinion: Local cultivators know this country's climate (p.6-7) / Assessing salinity levels to help protect Jaffna’s water (p.9) / Counting farm wells in northern Sri Lanka (p.11) / Recent publications (p.12)
		Issue 6, 2011 ; Editor : Herath Manthrithilake Download PDF [1.47 MB]  Sinhala version PDF [2.57 MB]  Editorial IWMI has set a new research agenda for its work in Sri Lanka after collaborative discussions last year in Colombo. An array of new projects are highlighted here that will help prepare Sri Lanka for future food, livelihood and environmental security needs. Some of our new projects include a study of water quality in Jaffna, GIS mapping of agro-wells, revisiting participatory irrigation management in Gal Oya and more... CONTENTS Editorial-Mapping a New Research Agenda for Sri Lanka (p.2) / Georeferencing Shallow Open Wells with Remote Sensing (p.3) / Hydro-geochemical Mapping of Jaffna's Aquifer Systems in Sri Lanka (p.4) / Revisiting the Pioneering Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) Project in Sri Lanka. What Next? (p.5) / Improving the Sustainability of Impacts of Agricultural Water Management Interventions in Challenging Contexts (p.6) / Wells, Cells and Markets Invigorate Tank-based Farming Systems in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka (p.7) / Recent IWMI Publications (p.8)
		Issue 5, 2010 ; Editor : Herath Manthrithilake Download PDF [1.94 MB]  Sinhala version PDF [2.80 MB]  Editorial This year is IWMI's 25th Anniversary. From its previous role in irrigation management to its current mandate to improve the management of land and water resources for food, livelihoods and the environment, IWMI has come a long way. This issue of Water Matters celebrates 25 years of IWMI's research with partners in Sri Lanka. It highlights some of the key concepts, tools and studies IWMI has produced and also looks ahead at some of the pressing issues that will be the basis for new research in Sri Lanka. CONTENTS Editorial-Twenty-Five Years of Research: Looking Back, Looking Ahead... (p.2) / The Significance of Sri Lanka's Small Tank Cascade Systems (p.3) / Reflections - Remembering 25 Year of Research (.4-5) / Impacts of climate Change on Water Resources and Agriculture in Sri Lanka: Vulnerability Hot spots and Options for Adaptation (p.6-7) / Key IWMI Research Reports on Sri Lanka (p.8)
		Issue 4, 2009 ; Editor : Madar Samad Download PDF [641 KB]  Editorial The Sri Lanka "Water for Food Conference" held in June 2009 brought together a wide range of academics, scientists and practitioners to discuss key issues relating to food security, climate change and water management in Sri Lanka and helped shape a new research agenda for IWMI and its partners in this country. CONTENTS Editorial-National "Water for Food Conference" 2009 (p.2) / Key Focus Areas of the Sri Lanka "Water for Food Conference" (p.3-5) The Way Forward: Beyond the "Water for Food Conference" (p.6) / Partnerships in Action (p.7) / List of Papers Presented at "Water for Food Conference" (p.8)
		Issue 3, 2007 ; Editor : Vladimir Smakhtin Download PDF [771 KB]   Sinhala version [1.12 MB]  Editorial Sri Lankan King Parakramabahu I (1153-1186 AD) is believed to have said "Let not even a small drop of water that comes from rain flow into the ocean without being useful to man". Similar statements have been made by many political leaders before and after him in many countries through centuries. And the normal engineering interpretation of this has always been "Let's harness as much water through dams and diversions as we possibly can... regardless". CONTENTS Editorial-Giving Voice to Environmental Water Needs (p.2) / Understanding and Documenting Cross-Disciplinary Research in Wetland Systems (p.3) / Why "Development Drainage" can Compromise Water Quality in the Bundala Lagoons (p.4) / Bundala: Waterbirds at Risk? (p.5) Pesticide Pollution: Mitigating the Negative Impacts (p.6) / Working Partnerships (p.7) / IWMI - Sri Lanka Publications and Resource Websites (p.8)
		Issue 2, 2007 ; Editor : Sarath Abayawardana Download PDF [543 KB]  Sinhala version PDF [2.50 MB]  Editorial We in Sri Lanka have an average rainfall of 2200 mm a year. Our drier regions have 900. In contrast, India has 1100 mm, and Australia a mere 455 mm. What are we talking about? Do we really have a problem in Sri Lanka? We often hear or see phrases like 'water scarcity' and 'climate change' in the mass media, and in technical and scientific reporting and conference proceedings. Unfortunately these and many other phrases cover some realities - 1.2 billion people without safe access to water, 5 million children dying annually due to water-related diseases, lakes drying up, drought stricken farmers committing suicide--not only in Polonnaruwa, but also in India and even Australia. CONTENTS Editorial-Water Security in Sri Lanka: Fact or Fiction? (p.2) / Expansion without Extinction. Managing Agricultural Development while Conserving Biodiversity (p.3) / Water Scarcity - The big Picture (p.4-5) / Can Wastewater Help Overcome Issues of Water Scarcity. (p.6) / Different Perspectives: An Interview wit Dr. C.R. Panabokke (p.7) / IWMI - Sri Lanka Publications and Resource Websites (p.8)
		Issue 1, 2006 ; Editor : Sarath Abayawardana Download PDF [3.86 MB]   Sinhala version [1.37 MB]  Editorial This inaugural issue of "Water Matters" focuses on some of the work that IWMI has carried out in Sri Lanka from 1986 to date, and tries to capture the rationale for its evolving program. CONTENTS Editorial (p.2) / Putting Poverty on the Map: IWMI's Water-Poverty Mapping (p.3) / From Irrigation, to Managing Water for Food, Livelihoods, Health and the Environment (p.4-5) / A Knowledge Based System for Sri Lanka (KBS-Lanka) for Disaster Preparedness (p.6) / Encounters with IWMI (p.7)