1. Workshop on “Present situation of River Sand Mining in Southern Sri Lanka and its effect on Livelihood, Agriculture and Natural habitat
2. Official Launching of CapNet-Lanka website (Nov, 2006)
3. Symposium on Development Initiatives in Water Sector
4. Core Group Meeting
5. 4th Meeting of Cap-Net Network Managers
6. “Rain Water Walk”
7. National Workshop on Training of Trainers in Integrated Water Resources Management
8. IWRM at a glance for GO’s (National Water Supply Drainage Board) Sri Lanka
9. Water quality awareness program for school children – Nanu Oya
10. Workshop on watershed problem identification – Nanu Oya
11. Training on research proposal formulation
12. Dialogue on River Sand & Clay Mining
13. Development of Database/Website
14. Core Group Meeting
15. Awareness program for NGO’s, Government and other relevant sectors in IWRM
16. Awareness program on IWRM for school teachers
17. Gender & Water Dialogue
18. AGM of Cap-Net Lanka
19. Training Needs Assessment
20. Training workshop on water policy
21. National Workshop on Training of Trainers in IWRM
22. Regional Tot in Integrated Water Resources Management in South Asia

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Dr. Paul Taylor (Director, Cap-Net) was invited as the cheif guest for a symposium on Development Initiatives in Water Sector: Lessons learnet by NGO's held on 29th November, 2006 at PGIA, Sri Lanka . He delivered a speech on "Importance of partnership & Network in Water Resource Managment" at the inugral session of the symposium. Eleven cases  were presentated in the symposium. the symposium was coordinated by Dr. S. Pathmarajah (spathma@pdn.ac.lk)

 Core Group members meeting was held on 17^th Nov, 2006 at the Dept. of Agricultural Engineering. The progress of the workplan for 2006 - 2007 was discussed.

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  Network Managers Meeting (Oct, 2006)

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“Rain Water Walk” (Sep, 2006)

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An International conference on “ Rain Water Usage” was held on 27^th, 28^th & 29^th of September 06 at Mahaweli Reach Hotel, Kandy along with an exhibition at St. Sylvesters’ College, Kandy.  In support of this event National Water Supply & Drainage Board with the collaboration of Cap-Net Lanka organized a campaign “Rain Water Walk” which commenced from Bank of Ceylon Kandy to St. Sylvesters’ College, Kandy on 28^th Sep’06. Many placards on Rain Water Usage was displayed by the walkers in order to make the public aware.  

 National Workshop on Training of Trainers in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) (Sep, 2006)

The National Tot is structured on the experience of Global Tot in Neuchatel in June 2003, the Regional Tot & National Tot in Sri Lanka in November 2004 & June 2005 respectively and the lessons learnt from those workshops. The training materials developed globally/regionally and nationally were discussed and made available to the participants.

 The main objective of the Tot workshop in IWRM was to strengthen the capacity of trainers in Sri Lanka by providing them with up-to-date knowledge on the principles of IWRM and equipping them with innovative training skills. It also used as a platform to strategize actions for the training of decision/policy makers and water sector professionals.

 Through this Tot workshop, CapNet-Lanka can increase the membership and the involvement of members, in all the activities for capacity building in IWRM. The workshop brought together people from various government and non-government institutions to initiate some linkages to work in partnership.  Most of the participants paid the fees Rs. 10,000.00 and some were given fellowships.

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 IWRM at a glance for GO’s (National Water Supply Drainage Board) Sri Lanka (Aug, 2006)

Around 50 participants, chief Engineers, Project Managers, Managers, Engineers, Officer In-Charge-Water Supply Scheme, District Engineers and Engineering Assistants, from NWSDB participated at this workshop. Eng. B.W.R. Balasooriya/Deputy General Manager, chaired the session. Eng. L.L. A. Peiris/Asst. General Manager introduced the Cap-Net Lanka and its link to National Water Supply & Drianage Board.

CDs on IWRM were distributed among the participants as training materials.  Two lectures were held on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) by Dr. M.I.M. Mowjood- and Water Issues addressed by using IWRM Tools  (Lessons learnt from case studies) by Dr. L. W. Galagedara.

Future network activities with National Water Supply & Drainage Board also discussed.  

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 Water quality awareness program for school children – Nanu Oya (July, 2006)

Workshop on IWRM organised by Cap-Net Lanka together with Lanka Jalani, National Water Supply & Drainage Board for school children in Kadugannawa area was held on 12^th July, 2006 at the People’s Bank Build. Auditorium, Kadugannawa.  Around 150 school children participated with their teachers. Workshop was held in local Language,

A leaflet titled “Jala Sampatha Surakimu” was distributed among the participant.  Also five books to each school library titled “Jalaya Lokaye Jeewayai” (“Water is the breath of the world”) was donated by NetWwater.

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 Workshop on watershed problem identification – Nanu Oya (May 2006)

This was organized by Cap-Net Lanka in collaboration with NetWwaters, Lanka Jalani and Postgraduate Institute of Peradeniya (PGIA) on 26^th May, 2006 at the Auditorium of PGIA. The Mayor Mr. S. K. Abeysiriwardena of Kadugannawa urban Council was the chief guest of the program.  Around 30 participants including opposition leader-Municipal Council-Kadugannawa, ChaIWRMn-Pradeshiya Sabawa-Akurana, Environmental Officers, Public Health Inspectors,Irrigation

Engineers, Proprietors of Timber Deports from Kagugannawa/Yatinuwara/Pilimathalawa, Mr. M.B. Adikaram, ChaIWRMn-National Builders Association, Ms. Kusum Athukorala, Chair, NetWwaters and postgraduate students in IWRM were participated. 

 Dr. Induka Werellagama-Faculty of Engineering, Eng. Mr. L.L.I. Peiris-NWSDB made presentations on Nanu Oya at the workshop.

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 Training on research proposal formulation (April, 2006)

Three participants Dr. M.M.M. Najim, Dr. (Ms) N.D.K. Dayawansa and Mr. Nawaz participated at this programme which was held at Dhaka, Bangladesh from 23^rd to 27^th of April, 2006 organized by Cap-Net Bangladesh. A fellow up program of this nature will be conducted in Sri Lanka in 2007.

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 Dialogue on River Sand & Clay Mining (April, 2006)

This program was organized by Lanka Jalani with its partner institutions including Cap-Net Lanka on 24^th April, 2006.  

The issue of unregulated river sand and clay miming is rapidly progressing to a national threat to the rivers, ecosystems, health of communities and their well being in addition to the damages to the infrastructures such as bridges, irrigation, water supply systems and roads. On the other hand,

the construction industry contributing over 8% to GDP requires over 7 million cubic meters of sand annually. National policy on sand mining, legal provision for regulation and institutional and administrative arrangement appear inadequate to meet the requirement. Ad hoc prohibitions on mechanized mining and banning due to pressure from local communities have not been able to meaningfully overcome the problem. No integrated effort has been yet made to resolve this issue. Hon. Prof. Tissa Vitarana, Minister of Science and Technology and other representatives of various institutions were participated. The media reported the activity in the national papers. Dr. P.B.R. Dissanayake, Prof. Athula Senaratne (University of Peradeniya), Prof. Malik Ranasinghe (University of Moratuwa) and Mr. Anil Peiris (Geological Survey and Mines Bureau) have made presentations.

Presentation (hard copies) are available 

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 Development of Database/Website (Sep, 2006)

A web site is being designed and developed for Cap-Net Lanka and launched in September, 2006.

www.capnetlanka.org

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       Core Group Meeting (April, 2006)

Core Group members meeting was held on 22^nd April, 2006 at the Dept. of Agricultural Engineering. Activities held in the past were reported and future activities and the budget were discussed and finalised.

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       Awareness program for NGO’s,Government and other relevant sectors in IWRM

Trainings were provided in key principles and themes of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) on 15^th, 20^th and 27^th March,2006 at Kandy, Pollannaruwa and Badulla respectively, to the staff of Plan Sri Lanka, a NGO working with water related activities at the grass root level.

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 Awareness program on IWRM for school teachers (March, 2006)

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 Dr. Punniyawardena from NRMC coordinated the programme and it was a successful workshop with attendance of 100 Advance Level Science/Geography teachers, agricultural staff, and other professionals. Dr. M.I.M. Mowjood, Dr. L.W. Galagedara, Dr. N.D.K. Dayawansa and Dr. M.M.M. Najim were the resource persons at the workshop.

 Gender & Water Dialogue (Feb, 2006)

This was a joint activity of Cap Net Lanka, NetWwater, Lanka Jalani and National Council of Women held at Agrarian Development Training Centre Pothuhera on 27^th & 28^th February 2006.  Poverty alleviation for rural women through water awareness was the main theme of the programme.

AGM of Cap-Net Lanka (Feb, 2006)

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 Training Needs Assessment (Feb, 2006)

Need assessment for the training in IWRM is a pre-requisite before expanding the capacity building activities of the CapNet-Lanka. With this objective in mind, the CapNet-Lanka initiated a training need assessment study. These studies extend from farmers up to the professional and the decision makers in the water sector.

 This study consisted of two parts, namely

a) IWRM training needs assessment of farmers, and

b) IWRM training needs assessment of water sector institutions.

For the first study, questionnaire survey and PRA technique was used for two farmer groups in a minor and major irrigation scheme. Only a questionnaire survey was adopted to cover major institutions of the water sector, NGOs and academic community for decision makers, professionals and middle level practitioners. The findings of these two studies were presented at the National Workshop held on 3^rd February 2006. Prof. E.R.N. Gunawardena and Ms. K.M. Dilhani (IWRM Student) presented their findings at the Workshop on Training Need Assessment on IWRM.The outcome of this study would help the CapNet-Lanka and other organizations interested in capacity building in IWRM to prepare long term programmes.

presentation(.pdf)

Report (.pdf)

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 Training workshop on water policy (May, 2005)

The government of Sri Lanka has attempted to introduce a national water resources policy with the main objective of achieving an efficient and equitable allocation of water resources in order to meet the short-term as well as long-term socio-economic and environmental goals under a market economic frame work. This work was initiated with the funding provided by the Asian Development Bank, FAO and Dutch Government since 1996. Though the original draft of the act has been approved by the Cabinet of ministers in 2001, it was subjected to severe criticism made by the media, environmental groups and the civil society. The public reaction on the water policy is around several arguments: lack of transparency in the policy formulation process, lack of historical cultural concern, lack of environmental and resource conservation concerns, inadequate safety nets for the poor and disadvantages segments of the society, more market oriented approach and possibility of involvement of transnational cooperation.

 As a result of these problems and the rejection of the policy by the public, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation came up with an alternative policy document. Those who were involved in drafting this policy maintains that what is prepared and released to the public is a base document with the objective of preparing a comprehensive national water policy.

 In 2005, two draft water policies existed in Sri Lanka: The policy document initiated in 1996 and supported by foreign funds and experts with the Interim Water Resources Authority of the then Ministry of River Basin, Mahaweli and Rajarata Development and the alternative policy document which was originated locally in 2004 (with no funding from external sources) and was promoted by the then Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation. Two policy documents were promoted by two ministries of the same government whilst no effective progress had been made towards finalizing a water policy for Sri Lanka.

 With this back ground, the CapNet-Lanka along with the Board of Study in Agricultural Engineering of the Post Graduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya initiated a Programme on Water Policy on 12^th May 2005 with the following objectives.

1. To raise awareness of water policy principles of different water policies in the world in comparison to the two draft water policies of Sri Lanka,

2. To identify possible legal implications of implementing these two water policies, and

3. To identify major issues between those two policies and find ways and means of closing the gap and to come up with single water policy document for Sri Lanka.

There were 77 participants at the training workshop. Personal who have been involved with the formulation of two draft water policies along with the professionals in the water sector were present as resource persons (This was the first occasion where both groups discussed their respective water policies in a single forum). Three out of four presentations during the training programme were made by the post graduate students who are following the Post Graduate Programme in IWRM at the PGIA. Key issues in relation to both policies were identified. The major differences of policy principles between two policies were also highlighted during the group work and panel discussion. It was agreed to compile a document based on the discussion and forward the same to the higher authorities for follow up action in order to close the gap between two water policy documents and come up with a single water policy acceptable to the people of Sri Lanka.
document (.pdf)

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 National Workshop on Training of Trainers in IWRM (June, 2005)

The training materials used for the Regional Tot was adopted and used for the National Tot in IWRM which was held from 20^th – 25^th June 2005 at the Post graduate Institute of Agriculture. This activity was sponsored by the Global Caplet and the Post Graduate Institute of Agriculture.

 Hard copies and training materials on CDs were given to each participant. The CDs included, a) training materials of the global TOT, b) IWRM tutorials, c) preparation of IWRM plans and d) the power point presentations made by the resource personal during the National TOT.

 At the end of the training programme a total of 23 participants were divided into groups based on their type of work and institutional affiliations to prepare future course of action. They were able to develop a course of action for their own organization with the improved knowledge they gained during the training programme. The participants expected the CapNet-Lanka to support the activities identified by them with expert advice to implement the proposed activities whenever possible.

 This shows that the little input from CapNet-Lanka through ToTs can help to improve the current activities of existing institutions through capacity building. The organizations mentioned above have required funds and are already working in different areas of IWRM. The value addition to their current activities through this training very well justifies the expenses incurred by the CapNet-Lanka for the National ToT.

Report (.pdf)

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 Regional Training of Trainers (ToT) in Integrated Water Resources Management in South Asia (Nov, 2004)

 The regional ToT programme addressed many different aspects, themes and principles of IWRM as well as innovative skills needed for effective training and education of water sector professionals and practitioners working in various aspects of water resources management.   The workshop was structured heavily on the experience of the institutions and organizations that organized the global workshop on training of trainers in Neuchatel, Switzerland in June 2003 and the lessons learnt from that workshop.

The focus was on providing training on the key elements of IWRM to build the capacity of trainers to deliver effective training at regional/national levels.  Attention was also made on modern instructional techniques and access to resource materials on IWRM. During the training programme, a total of 26 participants from four countries (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) in the South Asian Region were taken to a pilot project where transformation is taking place from an irrigation agency to a river basin authority. The programme consisted of a presentation by the River Basin Manager followed by a group discussion with engineers and farmers.  The participants were able to gain information on the experience, constraints faced and advantages and disadvantages of transformation to a river basin organization.

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