The Final Conference of the European Union funded Water and Sanitation for Settlements in Eastern Sri Lanka (WASSER) will be held on Tuesday 26th May at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo.
WASSER is a partnership between the City of Munich, the NGO EMAS and two Sri Lankan Municipal councils of Batticaloa and Kalmunai. Supported under the Asia Pro Eco II Post Tsunami program of the European Union, it aims to foster environmental restoration in areas affected by the Tsunami.
This project supports the urban poor by rehabilitating and expanding basic infrastructure in the water and sanitation fields in tsunami affected areas of Batticaloa and Kalmunai. Over 200 toilets, 150 tube/dug wells, 50 rainwater harvesting tanks and water connections to over 900 families have been provided under this program. Through the establishment of a well drilling school, a large number of young people have been trained thus creating job opportunities in the field of well drilling.
Within the framework of the project the City of Munich’s experience in developing and applying environmental management and information systems for environment planning and management was passed to Batticaloa and Kalmunai through training programs. A web based collaboration platform has also been established.
A delegation from the City of Munich led by the Mayor Hep Monatzeder will participate together with the Mayors of Batticaloa and Kalmuni and Mr. Bernard Savage, Ambassador, European Union Delegation of the European Commission to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. A large number of participants from Batticaloa and Kalmunai are expected.
