Project Update

Sanitation and Well Protection/Decontamination Project

Lanka Academic Network

Tissa H. Illangasekare

January 14, 2005

Field activities: I got in touch with Champaka when he returned home. The cell communication did not work when he was in the field. This summary update is based on what I got from him over the phone on January 13^th night in Sri Lanka:

The fieldwork in Thangalla area has been completed. This was reported earlier. Only additional information I received was that even though toilet installation was very successful earlier, later issue related to land disputes came up and the task had to be curtailed.

As project received other local donations and help, only about Rs 250,000 out of the Rs. 650,000 were expended as of last week.

Champaka was in the Trincomalee area where he is focusing on dewatering salinated wells. I requested him to send a short proposal outlining how he plans to use the remaining funds in this area. Our local collaborator, Dr. Karen Villholth from IWMI was with him during this trip to assess the situation to continue this work with her organization.

The well testing kits were finally released from the customs. It took few more days as Champaka had to be present personally to receive the package. There was a Rs. 6000 tax. I was told that if we coordinate these shipments with the Sri Lanka embassy here in US, the process might become much simpler.

Chamapka will submit a detailed cost report.

LacNet Acvities: I am in touch with a company here to get them to donate salinity probes to use in monitoring water quality in wells. I am waiting to here from them.

I am working with the National Science Foundation to take an expert panel to Sri Lanka to assess the groundwater situation in costal aquifers. When the plans are finalized I will work with LacNet to get any organizing assistance that may be needed in Sri Lanka. I appreciate hearing from any LacNet members who will have knowledge or expertise in groundwater conditions in the North and North East to be included in the panel (subjected to approval by NSF).