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National Audit Office finds great risk of groundwater depletion due to overextraction
There is a risk of groundwater depletion in the future due to unrestricted groundwater extraction, a National Audit Office report, titled ‘Evaluating the Legal Mechanism and Its Functionality of Ground Water Management in Sri Lanka’ has said.
The Audit Office has said that there is a risk of increasing contamination of groundwater due to the use of agrochemicals and various other activities.
The report says there is a lack of existing legal provisions for the protection of groundwater. For example the Water Resources Board, the institution that had been identified as the Groundwater Management Authority, has not prepared and activated a National Policy on Groundwater Management and this could be a stumbling block for the achievement of sustainable groundwater management by the year 2030.
“Groundwater is one of the most valuable natural resources in Sri Lanka and a large number of people use groundwater. About 80% of the rural population meets their domestic needs through groundwater. Farming activities in Jaffna, Ampara, Mannar, Puttalam and Vavuniya depend entirely on groundwater,” the report said.
The National Audit Office says that following the enactment of the Local Government Act No. 42 of 1987 by the 13th Amendment, the responsibility for the management of groundwater came under the purview of the relevant Provincial Councils and through the 13th Amendment to the Constitution delegated management responsibility for other mineral resources.
Many landowners decide what to do with groundwater available to them. “Accordingly, the use of groundwater by landowners, investors and public, places it in an unrestricted and non-acceptable manner and has been allowed to be used without regard to future environmental impacts on groundwater consumption,” the report observes.
It states that 443 tube well constructing institutions had registered with the Water Resources Board as at 30 June 2020. The Audit Office adds that in many parts of the country, water was traditionally taken for domestic purposes through shallow wells.
“Groundwater has traditionally been used for irrigation only in a limited number of areas, such as the Jaffna District. However, over the past two decades, groundwater has been used extensively for irrigation in an unorganised manner. Government and nongovernmental organisations have encouraged the construction of wells and provided financial assistance”.
The Audit Office states that this tendency has led to a drop in the groundwater level in the dry zone where a large number of wells have been dug. Some wells have been abandoned and there have been reports of brackish water coming through the wells. Groundwater density is very high in some areas.
“Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is also reported to be more prevalent in areas where well water density is high. An assessment of groundwater resources needs to be done to determine whether this resource is being used on a scientific basis and prudently,” the report said.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
