Sri Lanka takes pride in its natural resources, including water bodies that are spread throughout the country. While water is generally viewed as a resource that is abundantly available in most parts of the country, it is high time for Sri Lanka to pay attention to identifying the challenges faced by these water resources and to remedy them. The failure to do so will place the country in a difficult situation as far as its access to water, especially drinking water, is concerned.
Noting this, China-Sri Lanka Joint Research and Demonstration Centre for Water Technology Director, Dr. S.K. Weragoda, explained that funding water-related research and supporting scientists are among the key steps to ensuring that Sri Lanka takes the maximum benefit of the existing water resources and is ready to face water related challenges. Speaking to The Daily Morning, he stressed that this national need concerns the foreseeable future.
Below are excerpts from the interview:
How and when was this institution founded, and what are its main roles and responsibilities?
In 2012, at a time when I was studying the chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology (CKDU) and when Sri Lanka used to send water samples abroad for testing, I made a request to the Chinese Academy of Sciences seeking a laboratory for Sri Lanka for the said purpose. After discussions, in 2015, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed. The MoU contains four objectives, i.e. studying CKDU, studying groundwater pollution and introducing the treatments necessary to address it, identifying lacunas concerning rainwater harvesting and introducing the technologies needed to address them, developing a water resource atlas and a water resource management plan for Sri Lanka. In 2018, the Water Supply Ministry under the Sri Lankan Government and the Commerce Ministry under the Chinese Government signed an implementation agreement, under which China allocated around Renminbi 81 million and Sri Lanka allocated around Rs. 500 million. A feasibility study was conducted in 2018, and the institution was established in the University of Peradeniya because there is a big composition of scientists (under various institutions) in the Kandy area.
Can you tell us about a few notable projects this institution has engaged in?
In 2020, Covid-19 was prevalent. In collaboration with the Sri Jayewardenepura University, we conducted a special study to look into whether the Covid-19 virus was distributed in wastewater, surface water, and groundwater in Sri Lanka, and what its impacts are. At that time, there was a necessity to do that, and many countries also conducted similar water related studies. One of our priorities is studying CKDU, regarding which we have conducted a large number of studies. When the first MOU was signed by the institution in 2015, several MOUs were signed with the University of Peradeniya, the Health Ministry, and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board. Around 60 doctors were trained on initial investigations regarding CKDU. In addition, scientists of Sri Lanka and China have conducted many studies to identify the causes of the disease. In 2015, there were around 35 hypotheses about the causes of CKDU. At that time, there was no common institute for everyone concerned to work together, and our institution provided a common platform for scientists to work together. Last month (May), a conference was held in that regard, to discuss the studies conducted by Sri Lankan and Chinese scientists, how the studies should continue in the coming three years, and what sort of an overall direction we should have. Moreover, we conduct studies about various water related topics such as heavy metals.
Sri Lanka has a considerable number of various forms of water resources. In the Sri Lankan context, what sort of water-related concerns require attention?
Sri Lanka is known as a country rich in water resources. Sri Lanka generally receives an annual average of 1,500-2,000 mm of rainfall. But, rainfall is not evenly distributed throughout the year. If you take Beijing for example, the annual average rainfall is around 600 mm. However, it is evenly distributed throughout the year. Therefore, Sri Lanka faces a challenge of the chronological and topological distribution of rainfall, which makes the management of water resources a challenge. In addition, Sri Lanka currently has the capacity to store only around 10,000 cubic metres of water. Due to this, around 50-60% of the annual rainfall is released to the Ocean without being used. To store adequate water, we need another 10,000 m3 water storage capacity. Since we cannot afford it, it is crucial to properly manage the existing water resources. When it comes to groundwater, it is believed that Sri Lanka has around seven billion m3 of groundwater. However, we have not conducted a proper study on groundwater. Developed countries have taken measures to identify and preserve groundwater to be used. We don’t have the knowledge to do that. Despite having surface water, groundwater, and rainwater, our management of these water resources is poor because we are not properly using technology to do that. As an institution, we have a responsibility to provide the necessary knowledge and technological support for water resource management and water treatment in Sri Lanka.
The misuse of water resources is a topic of discussion in Sri Lanka. In your opinion, in the foreseeable future, what sort of water-related challenges might Sri Lanka have to face?
Attention should be paid to both the quantity and quality. Quantity-wise, Sri Lanka being an island, a month with no rain could cause a water shortage for Colombo. Our storage is inadequate. Therefore, we should pay attention to adopting water management systems such as the sustainable urban drainage system. We should properly apply these technologies; otherwise, we might have to face a huge drinking water shortage. We are in a concerning situation, and we should manage water resources very carefully. If we don’t get a correct understanding about groundwater resources, we would find ourselves in a terrible situation. Sri Lanka has only one water desalination plant, which is located in Jaffna. Its 24,000 m3 capacity does not provide the amount of water that the country needs. The population needs around four-five million m3 a day. Ensuring that is a huge challenge. At the same time, solid waste management in the country is in a poor state. We dispose of a huge amount of batteries and electronic devices, and this waste gets accumulated in the environment. In this context, we are living with the likely threat of various water quality-related issues in the future. We don’t see the gravity of this situation yet. Various health issues (linked to water quality) are also likely to increase. As far as the quality and quantity of water is concerned, we are in a very alarming situation. If we don’t take steps to manage these risks using the correct technologies and knowledge, we will have to face very serious issues. Therefore, I think that we should pay immediate attention to water related regulations with a focus on the quantity and quality. We should regulate the amount of water obtained by water suppliers and extractors, and the quality of water that they provide. Sri Lanka should have a productive regulatory body. Sri Lanka has around 40 laws that pertain to water, and they should be properly implemented. At the same time, we can improve various sectors such as tourism through the proper management of water resources.
What are the main challenges faced by scientists that are conducting water-related studies in Sri Lanka, including those attached to the institution?
The biggest challenge is Sri Lanka not having a proper research culture. In China and Japan, for example, I have seen a research culture. They talk about research, research in those countries have a value, and the findings of research can be easily implemented. In these types of research, scientists’ commitment is essential. This institution has only 21 officials. These 21 persons can only facilitate research. There are a number of State- and privately-owned universities and laboratories in Sri Lanka. I am facing an issue when it comes to collaborating with and motivating these parties so that they can use our equipment to resolve the country’s issues. There is a disaster that goes beyond that. This institution was built in 2021. There are around 150 research institutions and they have made attempts to find solutions for various issues. This institution was established to find solutions for issues that have remained unresolved thus far. The Government alone cannot fund these activities. Therefore, grants should be sought, which requires developing research proposals and working with scientists. In this process, this institution’s scientists need to be a capable group, and the Finance Ministry and the Management Services Department have a responsibility to ensure that. This institution has over Rs. 1 billion worth equipment, which can be operated only with the relevant expertise.
However, the officials are not properly compensated. Despite having doctorates, around 10 years of experience, and having published research papers, many of them receive only around Rs. 80,000. In this economy, it is extremely difficult to keep such officials with such a salary. Trained officials have left. We sign agreements. But, when they leave, we have to train officials again and again. If they are not given a reasonable salary, keeping them will be a very big challenge. We should give them a suitable salary, and obtain their services for the country. Otherwise, we cannot keep hope about the sustainability of the institution.