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The Ministry of Environment in partnership with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), recently organised an exposure visit to select areas in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka as a part of the Regional Workshop on Drought Risk Management and Mitigation in September 2024.

Around 40 policymakers and technical experts from Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, along with international experts from institutions like the Global Water Partnership (GWP), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and International Water Management Institute (IWMI) visited the Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project (CRIWMP), which is a 7-year project implemented by the Government of Sri Lanka and the United Nations Development Programme in Sri Lanka (UNDP), funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The visit provided participants with valuable insights into Sri Lanka’s innovative approaches to sustainable water management and drought resilience, particularly in the Dry Zone areas. The group visited key locations such as the Yakaandagas Wewa Tank, the upper catchment of the Kapugama Tank in Anuradhapura, and climate-smart agriculture sites in Kithul Uthuwa, Polonnaruwa.

These CRIWMP sites demonstrated practical examples of water conservation practices, efficient irrigation techniques, and traditional knowledge integration to sustain agricultural productivity during droughts.

The participants learned about the vital role these community-driven initiatives play in ensuring food security and sustainable water management midst climate change impacts. The exposure visit served as an opportunity for South Asian countries to exchange knowledge and practices, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable approach to drought management in the region.