Features

Rainwater harvesting is an essential step to stave off impending disaster

Published

2 years ago

2024/03/17

by ACB Pethiyagoda

Much is being spoken and written about the scarcity of drinking water and water for other purposes as well as it is a global problem caused by rapid population increases. It is made worse by the resulting needs of the people in the production of industrial and agricultural goods which in turn require water for production. This is the second most pressing problem the world is faced with the rising population being the first.

The average person does not give sufficient, or worse still, any thought to the need for conservation of water in the home, in agriculture, in industry or in its other uses. Conservationists say that a dangerous situation is looming ahead of us, individuals, nations and the world itself as the demand is increasing at an alarming rate while water supplies remain near constant. Consider for instance the following recent findings of the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF).

By 2050 the world’s population will increase to 9.3 billion from the present 6.1 billion. The increase will be mainly in developing countries where water for all purposes is already in short supply.

To feed the world’s population about 36% of the available fresh water is presently used for food production. By 2025 this could increase to 70% to meet the demands of the increased population.

In 2000, as many as 508 million people lived in 31 water stressed countries and in 2025 there will be three billion people in 48 such countries.

The average person is estimated to require 50 litres of water a day for drinking, washing and cooking.

According to the Lanka Rainwater Harvesting Forum Sri Lanka’s present domestic supply of water was secured by piped water serving the majority of te people, tube well, protected dug wells and served by other means.

The Forum in an article some months ago in “The Island” captioned “Domestic Rainwater Harvesting: An Option to Solve Water Scarcity Problem” states that between 1996 and 2000 the country needed to invest Rs. 8,000 million a year to provide safe drinking water throughout the country by 2010. However, investment fell short by more than 50% each year and one never knows when this need will be satisfied. That being the situation it is up to every right thinking person to conserve water before we find ourselves in a situation from which we cannot escape.

Such conservation is an unquantifiable contribution but it certainly is the right attitude and in the right direction. It will create the necessary awareness by users of water, for whatever purpose, to the danger we are faced with and concerned people need to take steps necessary to mitigate the circumstances.

As far as domestic use of water is concerned one option available is to supplement water from normal sources at household and macro levels by rainwater harvesting as a stand by resource.

Rainwater harvesting is the collection and storage of water that runs off man made catchment areas such as roofs of dwellings or other buildings through gutters into brick and cement or ferrocement tanks built above or underground.

Sri Lanka’s mean annual rainfall is around 2,000 mm with some parts of the country receiving only about 500 mm and when monsoons fail severe droughts are experienced such as that in the Hambantota District recently. In times such as those people need not have had to walk miles in search of drinking water as often as they did if rainwater had been collected in homes and by communities. Roof material of buildings and gutters used for rainwater collection should be hard such as G1 sheets, tiles or asbestos as these could be cleaned periodically. Overhanging branches and trees must be removed to ensure the collection tanks are sealed securely to prevent mosquitoes and other pests from breeding and growth of algae.

In order to encourage rain water storage systems plans for new houses and housing schemes should receive the attention of planners, builders, engineers and architects.

In late 2002 and early 2003 Agromart Foundation’s Production society members in Hambantota, Monaragala and Ampara District built in their homesteads 2,888 rain water storage tanks. Each of these have a capacity of 5000 litres and cost around Rs. 15,000/= each. A single mould costing approximately Rs. 7000/= was used to turn out several tanks. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) bore 75% of the cost while Agromarts members met the balance. At times of low rainfall owners of these tanks found all the drinking water they needed without even stepping out of their compounds so different from the ordeal they went through in the past.

With regard to water conservation in agriculture the main principals of rain water management is to slow down the flow and allow water to seep into the ground. To achieve this stone bunds, drains and trenches on the contour need to be provided. For maximum conservation pits measuring about a foot deep and two feet long should be dug at short intervals at the bottom of the contour drains. In steep land spacing between drains and or bunds must be close and wider in less steep land. These bunds and drains also serve another useful purpose, which is by preventing soil erosion.

Soils must be rich in leaf mould and mulch to absorb and retain water particularly in dry weather and prevent its exposure to the sun. In dry weather, if watering of crops is possible, a thorough drenching every few days is more useful than light watering daily. Watering in the late afternoons is advised to prevent excessive evaporation, during the day.

Waste water from kitchens can be used safely in home gardens where, preferable, the application is direct to the soil avoiding the crop foliage.

Perennial crops such as young coconut and fruit trees benefit greatly in times of drought when earthen pots buried up to their mouths and at a distance of about five feet from their trunks are filled with water as and when required.

Drip irrigation systems, though installation is expensive, are very efficient in conservation of water while at the same time giving excellent returns on investment as water is made available in measured quantities as and when needed by the crop.

Conservation of moisture and build up of soil fertility at macro level can be achieved with agro forestry. This is a system in which trees, preferably leguminous varieties, are planted as a mix with crops. By this system soil is protected from damage resulting from the beating action of heavy rain and scorching by the sun; Nitrogen is added to soils from decaying leaf and small branches from toppings. The force of winds and fast flowing rain water are minimized thus preventing physical damage to crops and minimising soil erosion; the force of dry winds are broken and drying up of soils and crops is minimized.

Fodder, fuel wood, timber, food, and medicinal items are provided by some trees grown with crops. Degraded and marginal lands can be brought back to their earlier productive condition.

An example of an efficient system of agro forestry is seen in Sri Lanka’s tea plantations where Grevillea, Dadap, Gliracidea and Accacia hedges planted from early times act as shade, windbreaks and sources of green manure.

Conservation of rainwater has been practiced in Sri Lanka from ancient times with our Kings constructing those near miracles, the irrigation tanks. King Kasyappa in the fifth century had fountains and swimming pools in his rock fortress. Ancients Rome had an intricate system of harvesting rain water for domestic use. In Australia’s semi desert regions many thousands of homesteads, cattle and sheep farms depend on harvested rain water. Community rain water tanks are common in many parts of Africa.

What we need in Sri Lanka today is to recreate an awareness for the need to conserve water and get about doing it at all levels and spheres because water is precious and has no known substitute.

Rainwater harvesting the best answer to Jaffna’s water woes.The northern Jaffna peninsula, which has traditionally experienced a scarcity of uncontaminated underground fresh water, should consider adopting new rainwater harvesting methods to meet the increasing demand, a German expert said this week in Colombo.

“The Jaffna peninsula receives an average annual rainfall of 120 centimetres which is adequate for its population’s consumption needs if this water is captured, stored and governed correctly,” said Herald Kraft, a consultant for the German Development Cooperation’s (GTZ) Jaffna Rehabilitation Project. “In fact, rain water is the most uncontaminated water source in Jaffna, because there is almost no air-polluting industry on the peninsula and the main cloud masses reach Jaffna having passed over the sea.”

Mr. Kraft was speaking at a seminar held at the International Water Management Institute on the potential of rainwater harvesting in the Jaffna peninsula. The third of a series of seminars on the subject, it was organized by the GTZ Jaffna Rehabilitation Project, which has spearheaded relief and reconstruction work in Jaffna since 1996.

Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation & Development, GTZ has been involved in the rehabilitation of the peninsula’s water supply system and the rebuilding of war damaged schools and houses.

Mr. Kraft, who had spent many months conducting a study on “Water Supply, Rain Water Harvesting, Waste Water and Solid Waste Management in the Jaffna peninsula”, revealed alarming information which indicated the gravity of the groundwater situation in Jaffna and the islands. The Jaffna topography is such, that the thin cover of soil over the ground water table, which consists mainly of sandy soil with an infiltration capacity of 50 m/d, provides no protection against pollutants from entering the ground water from the surface.

The sandy soil has very low absorption and therefore a low purification capacity. Whatever is applied onto the soil or buried in the loil reaches down to the ground water. Agricultural fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides, as well as solid and liquid industrial wasters, oil, diesel and petrol and the wide variety of domestic and liquid waste can easily pollute the ground water.

The lime stone cover, which is widespread in the Jaffna peninsula, provides almost no purification capacity, permitting all pollutants reaching the ground water to spread far and wide. Salination, along with contamination from the surface, has made it vital for such drinking water from local ground water sources to undergo sophisticated chemical treatment before it can be considered safe for human consumption.

According to GTZ experts, with more and more refugees returning to their homes in Jaffna, the peninsula’s population is likely to increase rapidly, putting additional pressure on this already sensitive environment.

As a means of introducing and popularizing rainwater harvesting, GTZ will launch a pilot project at the Kopay Christian College. The school buildings at this college provide 1,845 square metres of roof surface and will be connected to a cistern of 600 cubic metres. It is estimated that this collection will be sufficient to provide drinking water to the students and teachers of the college for a year.

GTZ experts pointed out that schools, hospitals, and public buildings that have large roof areas, usually covered with clay tiles, are perfectly suited for rainwater harvesting. They hoped the success of the pilot project would encourage many others in the peninsula to adopt this method, which would ensure an alternative source of fresh, uncontaminated water for the people of Jaffna.

(Late ACB Pethiyagoda, a career tea planter worked for Ceylon Tobacco Co. in agriculture related projects post retirement and was associated in several water management initiatives. This article was written and first published in July 2023 in the Sunday Island)

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Features

A long-running identity conflict flares into full-blown war

Published

21 hours ago

2026/03/5

Sahan Weerasooriya

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei / President Donald Trump

It was Iran’s first spiritual head of state, the late Ayatollah Khomeini, who singled out and castigated the US as the ‘Great Satan’ in the revolutionary turmoil of the late seventies of the last century that ushered in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The core issue driving the long-running confrontation between Islamic Iran and the West has been religious identity and the seasoned observer cannot be faulted for seeing the explosive emergence of the current war in the Middle East as having the elements of a religious conflict.

The current crisis in the Middle East which was triggered off by the recent killing of Iranian spiritual head of state Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a combined US-Israel military strike is multi-dimensional and highly complex in nature but when the history of relations between Islamic Iran and the West, read the US, is focused on the religious substratum in the conflict cannot be glossed over.

In fact it is not by accident that US President Donald Trump resorts to Biblical language when describing Iran in his denunciations of the latter. Iran, from Trump’s viewpoint, is a primordial source of ‘evil’ and if the Middle East has collapsed into a full-blown regional war today it is because of the ‘evil’ influence and doings of Iran; so runs Trump’s narrative. It is a language that stands on par with that used by the architects of the Iranian revolution in the crucial seventies decade.

In other words, it is a conflict between ‘good’ and ‘evil’ and who is ‘good’ and who is ‘evil’ in the confrontation is determined mainly by the observer’s partialities and loyalties which may not be entirely political in kind. It should not be forgotten that one of President Trump’s support bases is the Christian Right in the US and in the rest of the West and the Trump administration’s policy outlook and actions should not be divorced from the needs of this segment of supporters to be fully made sense of.

The reasons for the strong policy tie-up between Rightist administrations in the US in particular and Israel could be better comprehended when the above religious backdrop is taken into consideration. Israel is the principal actor in the ‘Old Testament’ of the Bible and is seen as ‘the Chosen People of God’ and this characterization of Israel ought to explain the partialities of the Republican Right in particular towards Israel. Among other things, this partiality accounts for the strong defence of Israel by the US.

For the purposes of clarity it needs to be mentioned here that the Bible consists of two parts, an ‘Old’ and ‘New Testament’ , and that the ‘New Testament’ or ‘Message’ embodies the teachings of Jesus Christ and the latter teachings are seen as completing and in a sense giving greater substance to the ‘Old Testament’. However, Judaism is based mainly on ‘Old Testament’ teachings and Judaism is distinct from Christianity.

To be sure, the above theological explanation does not exhaust all the reasons for the war in the Middle East but the observer will be allowing an important dimension to the war to slip past if its importance is underestimated.

It is not sufficiently realized that the Iranian Islamic Revolution of 1979 utterly changed international politics and re-wrote as it were the basic parameters that must be brought to bear in understanding it. So important is the Islamic factor in contemporary world politics that it helped define to a considerable degree the new international political order that came into existence with the collapsing of the Cold War and the disintegration of the USSR .

Since the latter developments ‘political Islam’ could be seen as a chief shaping influence of international politics. For example, it accounts considerably for the 9/11 calamity that led to the emergence of fresh polarities in world politics and ushered in political terrorism of a most destructive kind that is today disquietingly visible the world over.

It does not follow from the foregoing that Islam, correctly understood, inspires terrorism of any kind. Islam proclaims peace but some of its adherents with political aims interpret the religion in misleading, divisive ways that run contrary to the peaceful intents of the faith. This is a matter of the first importance that sincere adherents of the faith need to address.

However, there is no denying that the Islamic Revolution in Iran of 1979 has been over the past decades a great shaper of international politics and needs to be seen as such by those sections that are desirous of changing the course of the world for the better. The revolution’s importance is such that it led to US political scientist Dr. Samuel P. Huntingdon to formulate his historic thesis that a ‘Clash of Civilizations’ is upon the world currently.

If the above thesis is to be adopted in comprehending the principal trends in contemporary world politics it could be said that Islam, misleadingly interpreted by some, is pitting a good part of the Southern hemisphere against the West, which is also misleadingly seen by some, as homogeneously Christian in orientation. Whereas, the truth is otherwise. The West is not necessarily entirely synonymous with Christianity, correctly understood.

Right now, what is immediately needed in the Middle East is a ceasefire, followed up by a negotiated peace based on humanistic principles. Turning ‘Spears into Ploughshares’ is a long gestation project but the warring sides should pay considerable attention to former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami’s memorable thesis that the world needs to transition from a ‘Clash of Civilizations’ to a ‘Dialogue of Civilizations’. Hopefully, there would emerge from the main divides leaders who could courageously take up the latter challenge.

It ought to be plain to see that the current regional war in the Middle East is jeopardising the best interests of the totality of publics. Those Americans who are for peace need to not only stand up and be counted but bring pressure on the Trump administration to make peace and not continue on the present destructive course that will render the world a far more dangerous place than it is now.

In the Middle East region a durable peace could be ushered if only the just needs of all sides to the conflict are constructively considered. The Palestinians and Arabs have their needs, so does Israel. It cannot be stressed enough that unless and until the security needs of the latter are met there could be no enduring peace in the Middle East.

Features

The art and science of communicating with your little child

Published

21 hours ago

2026/03/5

Sahan Weerasooriya

The two input gateways of communication, sight and sound, are quite well developed at birth. In fact, the auditory system becomes functional around 24 weeks in the womb, and the normal newborn can hear quite well after birth. However, the newborn’s vision is a little blurry at birth, and the baby sees the world in shades of grey, while being able only to focus on things 20 to 30 cm (8–12 inches) away. Coincidentally, this is perhaps the exact distance to a mother’s face during breastfeeding. By 2-3 months, there are colour vision capabilities and the ability to track. By 5-8 months, there is depth perception, and by 12 months, there is adult clarity of vision.

By the time a child turns five, his or her brain has already reached 90% of its adult size. This astonishing physical growth is not just happening on its own; it is, to a certain extent, fuelled by experience, and the most vital experience a young child can have is communication with his or her parents.

Modern developmental neuroscience has shifted our understanding of how children learn. We used to think babies were passive sponges, slowly absorbing the world. We now know they are active characters from day one, constantly seeking interaction to build the architecture of their minds. This architecture is not built by apps, vocabulary flashcards, or educational television. It is built through simple, loving, back-and-forth interactions with anyone they come across, but mostly their parents.

The Foundation: Serve and Return (0–12 Months)

Communication with an infant from birth to one year of age begins long before they speak their first word. In the first year, the goal is to master a phenomenon called Serve and Return. This is a basic scenario picked up from the game of tennis. At the start of each game of a set in tennis, a player serves, and the opponent returns the serve. Just imagine a tennis match, where a baby “serves” by making a sound, making eye contact, reaching for a toy, or crying. The job of anyone in the vicinity, who very often are the parents of the baby, is to “return” the ball. If they babble, you babble back. If they point at a cat, you look and say, “Yes, that’s a furry cat!” This simple act does two things. The first is Brain Building, which creates and strengthens neural pathways in the language and emotional centres of the brain. The other is Emotional Security, a thing which teaches a baby that he or she has some help in the learning processes. The baby absorbs the notion that when he or she signals a need, his or her world will respond. This forms the basis of a secure attachment. Scientists have advocated that during this stage, people, especially the parents of a baby, should embrace what is called ‘parentese’. It is the use of a somewhat high-pitched, exaggerated voice. Research has shown that babies pay more attention to parentese than to regular adult speech, helping them to map the sounds of their native language more quickly.

The Language Explosion: Toddlers (1–3 Years)

When a child starts speaking words, the game changes considerably and quite profoundly. This period is defined by a rapid increase in his or her vocabulary and the beginning of grammar. It is very important to narrate everything. The people around, especially the parents, need to become kind of sports commentators for your life. While dressing them, one could say, “First we put on the red sock. After that, we put the other red sock on your left foot.” What we are doing by this is to give them the labels for the world they see.

It is also important to expand, but not truly correct, whatever the child says. If a toddler points to a car and says “Car!”, don’t just say “Yes.” Expand on it: “Yes, that is a big, fast, red car!” You are adding a new vocabulary and grammatical structure through a natural process. If the child says “Me go,” respond with, “Yes, you are going!” rather than correcting and saying “No…, you should say ‘I am going’.”

Toddlers love reading the same book, even one hundred times. While it may be tedious for those around the baby, it is important to realise that such repetition is vital for their learning. They are predicting what comes next, which is a core cognitive skill.

The Preschooler: Building Stories and Logic (3–5 Years)

By age three, the focus shifts from “what” to “why.” Preschoolers are beginning to understand complex emotions, time, and causality. This is the age at which it is best to ask questions which require thought and understanding. Such indirect open-ended questions would sound like “What was the best part of the park today?” or “How do you think that character in the story is feeling?“

A preschooler’s world is full of “big feelings” they cannot yet manage. When they are upset because they cannot have a cookie, avoid saying “Don’t cry over nothing.” Instead, name the emotion: “Don’t cry, you can have a cookie after dinner“. This teaches them emotional literacy. Parents and others around in the home could share stories about when they were little, or make up fantasy tales together. Storytelling teaches sequential logic (beginning, middle, end) and strengthens their imagination.

The Absolute Master Class: Learning Through Play

If communication is the fuel for brain development, play is the engine. For a child under five, play is not a break from learning; play is learning. It is how they explore physics (stacking blocks), mathematics (sorting shapes), social dynamics (sharing toys), and language (pretend play). We can boost their development exponentially by weaving communication into their play.

When a child is playing with blocks, dough, or puzzles, they are building fine motor skills and spatial awareness. It is also useful to use three-dimensional words: “Can you put the blue block on top of the red one?” “The puzzle piece is next to your knee.” One could also ask them to describe the texture: “Is the dough soft or hard?“

Pretend play, such as acting as a doctor, an engineer, a chef, or a superhero, is one of the most cognitively demanding things a child can do. It requires them to understand symbolic thought and to take on another person’s perspective. Join their world as a supporting character, not the director. If they are the doctor, ask, “Doctor, my teddy bear’s tummy hurts. What should I do?” This encourages them to use vocabulary relevant to the scenario and practice complex social problem-solving.

Playing with water, sand, slime, or safe food products allows children to process sensory information. This is the perfect time for descriptive vocabulary. Use contrasting words: wet/dry, hot/cold, sticky/smooth, loud/quiet.

A few special words for parents. You do not need an expensive degree or specialised toys to build your child’s brain. The most powerful tool you have is your own responsiveness. Modern science tells us that the basic recipe for a thriving child is simple: Look at them when they signal you. Respond with warmth and words. Narrate their world and Join their play.

You are not just talking to your child; you are building his or her future, even via just one conversation at a time. So, go on talking to your child and even make him or her a real-life chatterbox.

Dr B. J. C. Perera

MBBS(Cey), DCH(Cey), DCH(Eng), MD(Paediatrics), MRCP(UK), FRCP(Edin), FRCP(Lond), FRCPCH(UK), FSLCPaed, FCCP, Hony. FRCPCH(UK), Hony. FCGP(SL)

Specialist Consultant Paediatrician and Honorary Senior Fellow, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Features

Promoting our beauty and culture to the world

Published

21 hours ago

2026/03/5

Sahan Weerasooriya

Tourism is very much in the news these days and it’s certainly a good sign to see lots of foreigners checking out Sri Lanka.

With this in mind, Ruki’s Model Academy & Agency recently had a spectacular event to select Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka in order to promote Sri Lanka in the international scene.

Nimesha Premachandra was crowned Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka 2026.

She says she owes her success to Ruki (Rukmal Senanayake), the National Director and model trainer, and personality and advocacy trainer Tharaka Gurukanda.

Nimesha is a school teacher by profession, an actress and TV presenter by passion, and an entrepreneur by spirit.

She believes in balancing grace with purpose, and using her platform to inspire women, while promoting the beauty and culture of Sri Lanka to the world. And this is how our Chit-Chat went:

Nimesha Premachandra: Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka 2026

01. How would you describe yourself?

I am a passionate, disciplined, and people-oriented person. I love learning, performing, and guiding others, especially young minds, through education.

02. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I would probably try to be less self-critical and allow myself to celebrate achievements more often.

03. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?

Nothing major. I am grateful for my family’s love and support, which has shaped who I am today.

04. Is Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka your very first pageant?

No. I have been part of pageants before, but Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka is very special because it represents purpose, culture, and global representation.

05. What made you take part in this contest?

I wanted to represent Sri Lanka internationally and use this platform to promote tourism, culture, and women’s empowerment.

06. Obviously, you must be excited about participating in the grand finale, in Vietnam; any special plans for this big event?

Yes, I am extremely excited. My focus is to showcase Sri Lankan elegance, hospitality, and authenticity, while building meaningful connections with participants from around the world.

07. How do you intend promoting tourism, in Sri Lanka, during your rein?

I plan to highlight Sri Lanka’s diverse experiences in culture, heritage, wellness, nature, and local hospitality through media appearances, digital storytelling, and tourism collaborations.

08. School?

Kaluthara Balika. School life played a big role in shaping me. I actively participated in sports and performing arts, which later helped me build confidence as an actress and presenter.

09. Happiest moment?

Being crowned Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka 2026 and seeing the pride in my family’s eyes – definitely one of my happiest moments.

10. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Peace of mind, good health, and being surrounded by the people I love while doing work that has meaning.

11. Which living person do you most admire?

I most admire Angelina Jolie because she beautifully balances her work as an actress with meaningful humanitarian efforts. She uses her global platform to support refugees, advocate for human rights, and inspire women to be strong, compassionate, and independent.

12. Which is your most treasured possession?

My memories and experiences because they remind me how far I’ve come, and keep me grounded.

13. Your most embarrassing moment?

Like everyone, I’ve had small on-stage mishaps, but they always taught me to laugh at myself and move forward confidently.

14. Done anything daring?

Participating in pageants while balancing teaching, media work, and family life has been one of the boldest and most rewarding decisions I’ve made.

Keen to use her title to promote Sri Lanka globally

15. Your ideal vacation?

A peaceful destination surrounded by nature; somewhere I can relax, reconnect, and experience local culture.

16. What kind of music are you into?

I enjoy soft, soulful music because it helps me relax and stay inspired.

17. Favourite radio station:

I enjoy stations that blend good music with meaningful conversation and positive energy.

18. Favourite TV station:

Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation. It’s where it all began for me. It played a significant role in my journey as a TV presenter and helped shape my confidence and passion for media.

19 What would you like to be born as in your next life?

Someone who continues to inspire others because making a positive impact is what matters most.

20. Any major plans for the future?

I hope to expand my work in media and entrepreneurship while continuing my role as an educator and using my title to promote Sri Lanka globally.