Field activities: As the team is currently in the field, we are not in directly in touch with Champaka Paulis who is managing the LacNet effort. This update is based on my communication with some of his associates and other family members who are in touch with him by phone. We are excepting a more detailed report from Chamapaka very soon after he returns to Colombo. This is a summary:

The project got started on Monday, January 3^rd. The supplies were loaded on to two lorries and sent to Thangalla. The supplies included hardware for temporarily toilets, portable generators and pumps.
Thangalla is used as the base for operations in the area that includes Hamabantota. The Prime Minster’s office arranged accommodation for the team in a Montessori school.
By yesterday (Tuesday 5^th), 20 toilets have been completed at Tangalla. Champaka estimated about 25 installations per day, but things are moving much slower as direct supervision was required.
Thirty wells have been “cleaned” at Thangalla. The cleaning has taken more time, as the water seems to have an odor. Some wells had to be pumped 25 times. Until testing is done it may be hard to say how clean the wells are.
The plan is to install 18 toilets on January 6^th. It is difficult to give an estimate of the number of wells as it depends on the specific conditions of the wells and other logistical factors.

LacNet Coordination:

The funds were transferred to a temporary Commercial bank account until a LacNet account could be opened.
With the assistance from many LacNet members and other technical experts, we were able to get IDEXX laboratories to donate 400 field testing kits to detect Coliform bacteria. These kits were sent through FedEx and the tracking shows they are still in transit. We have made arrangements through some contacts to get the test kits through the customs fast. Geetha Selvendran, was instrumental in getting this operation going. Many others contributed to this effort both with technical and logistical issues. Dr. Shorta Yuasa from Boston, MA, has contacted number of other possible donors for similar kits. We are waiting to see how we could use these, once we know how the first set worked.
Geetha also helped to identify Dr. Chandra Kodikara, a faculty member at University of Kelaniya to help train the volunteers. Our plan is to get the test kits to local volunteers to go to wells and do periodic testing. Dr. Karen Villholth a water scientist with the International Water Management Institute also has offered to help with her technicians. Once the tests are adapted to field conditions, they will prepare easy to follow instructions to be used by the volunteers.
NGO’s in Sri Lanka and other places are aware of this pilot effort. Once we receive the report from Champaka, we will inform them of our findings.