2.11 Sri Lanka
1 | Country Information
Table 2.11.1 Basic indicators
Land Area (km2)

62,705 (2019)

Total Population

21.8 million (2019)

GDP (current USD)

84 billion (2019)

GDP per capita (current USD)

3,852 (2019)

Average Precipitation (mm/year)

1,712 (2017)

Total Renewable Water Resources (km3)

52.8 (2017)

Total Annual Freshwater Withdrawals(billion m3)

13 (2005)

Annual Freshwater
Withdrawals
by Sector

Agriculture

87.3% (2005)

Industry

6.4% (2005)

Municipal(including domestic)

Groundwater resources in the country are estimatedat 7,253 million m3 and represent the major source ofwater especially in rural areas, where around 72% of therural population relies on it for domestic uses.

6.2% (2005)(Source: CB 2019, FAO 2020)

Figure 2.11.2 Annual precipitation distribution (in mm) in
Sri Lanka

3 | State of Ambient Water Quality

Figure 2.11.1 Kandy Lake in Kandy, Sri Lanka

2 | State of Water Resources
Sri Lanka is a tropical island country with an averageannual rainfall of 900–5,000 mm (Figure 2.11.2), which
provides 131,230 million m 3 of freshwater annually.
Zones in its southwest are the wettest, receiving over
2,000 mm/year, while northern (and some southeast)
areas are considered dry zones with under 1,500 mm/
year. There are 103 river basins, and the largest river isthe 335 km Mahaweli River, covering an area of 10,448
km2 (MENR and UNEP 2009). Rivers in the wet zones
contribute over 50% of the runoff despite covering only
about one third of the land area. There are over 3,400
wetlands, which include ancient irrigation reservoirs,
recently constructed multipurpose reservoirs, tanks andlakes.

110

Pollution by domestic and industrial wastewater as wellas leachate from garbage continues to be a problem forsurface water and groundwater resources in Sri Lanka.
Central wastewater treatment facilities cover less than
5% of the population, and commonly comprise onsite
septic tanks among urban dwellings. High use of synthetic
fertilizers on farms and resultant runoff and leaching of
nutrients is another cause of nutrient pollution in thesurface and groundwater.

3.1 Rivers
Water quality in main water courses is still within thelimits of the ambient water quality standard. However,untreated or insufficiently treated wastewater in urban
areas is the main cause of river pollution. For instance,
the Kelani River, the second largest river basin in Sri
Lanka, is one of the most polluted due to the rapid
growth of industry and high population density along
the river.
Illegal dumping of solid wastes into waterways is alsoa serious concern. Expansion of sand mining activities
also aﬀects the river water quality, such as with increased
turbidity, decreased water ﬂow and accelerated saltwater
intrusion. Table 2.11.2 shows the recent state of water
quality in certain rivers.

Chapter 2: Country Profiles of Water Environmental Management in WEPA Countries

River

Year

BOD
(mg/L)

Nilwala River

2019

1

COD
(mg/L)

NO 3(mg/L)

PO 43(mg/L)

5.6

0.9

<0.01

1.47

<0.01

9.97

<0.01

2019

3.71

16.83

<0.01

<0.01

2019

1.67

14.63

0.15

<0.1

2020

1.78

12.92

0.15

<0.1

Mahaweli River

2020

5.0

7.75

0.03

<0.01

Malwathu oya

2020

1.70

23.70

0.02

0.1

E.coliNO 3CODTSSPO 43Sampling TDS(cfu/ (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L)(mg/L)
area(mg/L) 100
ml)

2018

1.37

12.41

0.43

<0.1

Farmland

2019

9

66.29

2.87

<0.1

2020

1.4

11.0

0.50

<0.1

Solid Waste
Dumping 270–296 10–790
Site

12–20

13–93

0.2–0.5 3.1–6.2

2017

3.87

22.43

0.99

<0.01

City

16–20

6–58

0.2–0.4 0.3–7.4

2018

1.75

15.75

1.87

<0.15

(Source: CEA 2019)

2019

2.75

10.5

1.06

0.05

*Based on research by University of Peradeniya &National Water Supply & Drainage Board

Attanagalu oya
Menik River

Badulu oya

Diyawanna oya(Source: CEA 2021)

3.2 Lakes and Reservoirs

COD(mg/L)

NO 3(mg/L)

PO 43(mg/L)

2019

7.43

25.06

1.10

0.03

2020

3.10

29.7

1.40

<0.01

Gregory Lake

2019

8.42

31.0

1.53

0.04

Wennaruwa wewa

2019

12.85

3.18

1.69

0.054

2019

2.53

28.27

NA

0.06

2020

5.81

18.91

NA

0.03

2019

3

35

NA

0.04

2020

3.56

23.92

NA

0.02

Kurunegala tankNuwara wewa

Tissa wewa

3.3 Coastal Water

Table 2.11.5 Existing wastewater treatment facilities inmajor cities
Sewerage System
Colombo (CMC)

Treatment Capacity(m 3/day)

Beneficiaries

Sea outfall

331,500

Dehiwala/Mt. Laviniya

CMC sea outfall

65,000Kolonnawa

CMC sea outfall

60,000Kataragama

3,000

20,000Hikkaduwa

1,040

500 +
Commercial (60 Nos.)

Rathmalana

17,00020,000Ja Ela

7,500

10,500

Kurunegala

4,500

43,000Kandy

14,00055,000 + 150,000(floating)

Viet Nam

A common groundwater quality problem in the country
is microbial contamination and nutrients (such as nitrate)

National sewerage coverage is limited to less than 3%,
while the rest of the country relies on on-site sanitationsuch as septic tanks, Ventilated Improved Pit Latrines(VIPs), and unimproved sources (pit latrines and unknown
types). There are ongoing and planned wastewater
treatment projects to treat domestic wastewater inmajor cities or under certain housing schemes. Tables
2.11.5 and 2.11.6 show the state of existing wastewater
treatment facilities.

Thailand

3.4 Groundwater

Domestic wastewater

Sri Lanka

Water pollution in coastal water bodies has grown overthe past few decades due to rapid development activities
and human settlements both in and outside coastal
areas, establishment of new industries and tourism. Over
60% of industrial establishments are located along Sri
Lanka’s coastal zone, such as coastal districts of Colombo
and Gampaha. Organic pollution in coastal areas, such as
Beruwala and Unawatuna areas, has led to high levels of
BOD.

4 | State of Wastewater Treatment

Philippines(Source: CEA 2021)

Industry is another source of groundwatercontamination in Sri Lanka. A study conducted under the
WEPA Action Program found higher COD, Nitrate, and EC
in groundwater samples collected nearby someindustries.

Nepal

BOD
(mg/L)

4–608

MyanmarYear

Reservoir

80–105

10–13 140–155 0.3–0.6 0.3–0.5

Malaysia

Table 2.11.3 Water quality of certain reservoirs

160–172 22–40

Lao PDR

In general, the water quality of lakes and reservoirs is
considered good. Table 2.11.3 summarises water quality
status of select reservoirs.

Table 2.11.4 Variation in groundwater quality acrossdifferent areas (2014–2018)*

Republic of Korea

3.23
26.06

Japan

20.1
2.95

Indonesia

2019
2020

Deduru oya

Chinacaused by leachate from on-site sanitation systems suchas pit latrines (Table 2.11.4). Excessive fertilizer use anduntreated wastewater are other factors responsible
for high nitrate levels in the groundwater. In coastal
areas, salinity is a prominent issue and is caused by a
combination of factors such as excessive groundwater
use and sea waves encroaching inland.

Cambodia

Table 2.11.2 State of river water quality(Source: CEA 2021)

111

Table 2.11.6 Wastewater treatment in major housing
schemesNo. ofConnections

Treatment
capacity(m 3/d)Beneficiaries

1,154

600

4,850

Jayawadanagama

669

NA

2,810

Maddumagewatta

315

NA

1,320

Raddolugama

2,045

6,000

8,590

Kuruminiyawatta

202

NA

850

Royal Park

249

NA

1,045

Hantana

394

550

1,650

Housing
SchemeMattegoda(Source: CEA 2021)

Industrial wastewater
In Sri Lanka industries are categorised into threebroad groups, namely Type A, B and C by the Central
Environment Authority (CEA) depending upon theseverity of pollution potential and to guide the siting ofsuch industries. A total of 15,404 highly polluting industry
units (Type A), 10,631 medium polluting industrial units(Type B) and 26,622 low polluting industrial units (Type C)
operate within Sri Lanka. Most industrial zones have own
wastewater treatment systems for treating wastewaterfrom factories operating within their boundaries. Thereis little or no data on the state of wastewater generationand treatment from small and medium-sized industries.
Table 2.11.7 shows the state of wastewater treatment insome export processing zones.
Table 2.11.7 Wastewater treatment in certain export
processing zones
Export Processing Zone

Treatment capacity (m 3/d)

Biyagama

21,000

Seetawaka

9,900

Koggala675

Katunayaka

3,000

Mirigama

400

Wathupitiwala

900

Polgahawela

450

Mawathagama

500

HoranaMalwatta

1,000
450(Source: CEA 2021)

According to the National Water Supply andDrainage Board Law, No. 02 of 1974, different tariffstructures apply for domestic and industrial sewer
services based on total amounts of water consumption
from all water supply sources for each billing month. The
domestic sewer service provided for commercial purpose

112

charges a flat rate of 40 LKR per cubic meter, while forresidential purpose the tariff rate varies according towater consumption. For residential purpose, anadditional service charge of 200 LKR also applies. For
industrial purpose, a flat rate of 65 LKR per cubic meter
applies.

5 | Frameworks for Water
Environmental Management
The Constitution of Sri Lanka states that protection,
preservation, and improvement of the environment forthe beneﬁt of the community is the responsibility of thestate (Article 27/14) and that every person in the country
has a duty to “protect nature and conserve its riches”(Article28). Surface water resources – rivers, streams
and lakes – are controlled by the government, under the
Crown Lands Ordinance and the Constitution. Vistas ofProsperity & Splendour" Manifesto of President Gotabaya
Rajapakse Among ten (10) key policies addressed in the
manifesto of the President Gotabaya Rajapakse, the 8th
chapter describes about the Sustainable Environmental
policy to strengthen and protect the forest cover, rivers,
streams and wildlife. The Haritha Lanka Program,approved in June 2008, is the current basic national
policy document for environmental conservation, andaims to promote sound environmental management in
Sri Lanka by balancing the needs of social and economic
development and environmental integrity. The “National
Action Plan for Haritha Lanka Program” was preparedin the same year, based on the above program, andincludes steps to be implemented during 2009–2016
under the supervision of the National Council for
Sustainable Development (NCSD). The plan’s proposed
strategies and actions represent a concerted eﬀort of
all relevant ministries and stakeholder institutions. As
regards environment pollution control, the CEA prepares
ﬁve-year action plans.

5.1 Legislation
The National Environmental Act (NEA) No. 47 of 1980
(amended as Act No. 53 of 2000) forms the basisof the country’s law, and aims “for the protection,
management and enhancement of the environment, forthe regulation, maintenance and control of the qualityof the environment; for the prevention, abatement andcontrol of pollution”. According to the act, discharges,
deposits or emission of waste into the environment
cannot be carried out without a license and must comply
with standards and criteria prescribed. Other acts andordinances related to water environmental management
are illustrated in Figure 2.11.3.

Chapter 2: Country Profiles of Water Environmental Management in WEPA Countries

Marine and costal water quality
Marine Pollu�on Preven�on Act of No. 35 of 2008
Coast Conserva�on Act No.57 of 1984 as amended
by Act No. 64 of 1988

- Eﬄuents discharge standards Gaze�e No. 1534/18 and theprescribed ac�vi�es for which a license is required inGaze�e No. 1533/16

Water resource development /management- Prescribed projects in Gaze�e No. 772/22 which apply- EPA - Environment Protec�on Areas declared under thesec�ons 24C and 24D of the Na�onal Environmental Act
No. 47 of 1980

Management of speciﬁc areas- Urban Development Authority Act No. 41 of 1978 as amended
from �me to �me- Greater Colombo Economic Commission Law No. 4 of 1978 as
amended by Act No. 49 of 1992

Figure 2.11.3 Laws and regulations related to water environmental management

5.2 Institutional Arrangement

Overall responsibility for protecting the environment including water environment

Water Resources Board

Scientific characterization, mapping, and preparation of comprehensive and integrated plans
for the conservation, utilization, control, and development of groundwater resources.

National Water Supply & Drainage Board

Operational development and installation of public and private water supply schemes basedon groundwater and coordinate sewerage systems.

Department of Irrigation

Regulation and control of inland waters

Mahaweli Authority

Maintenance of Mahaweli River and its reservoirs for development of lands for agriculture.

Coast Conservation & Coastal Resources
Management Department

Conservation of the coastal zone and management of its resources.

Marine Environment Protection Authority(MEPA)

Protection of the marine environment from ship- and shore-based maritime related activities.
(Source: created based on information from CEA)

Viet Nam

Central Environmental Authority

ThailandOverall management of the environment and natural resources of the country. Formulating
key policies, strategies, and guidelines for environmental management.

Sri Lanka

Ministry of Environment (MOE)

Philippines

Mandates of the agency

Nepal

Name of the agency

Myanmar

Table 2.11.8 Key agencies involved in the management of water environment

Malaysia

has the regulatory powers over the marine pollution
prevention and other governmental organizations thatare related to construction, engineering services, housing
and common amenities such as the Condominium
Management Authority, National Housing Development
Authority, and the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka
are indirectly related to water environment as theiractivities significantly aﬀect the condition of water
quality. Local governments are also playing an importantrole in water environmental management in regulating
low-impact industries and activities prescribed by orders
issued under the NEA. Public health inspectors at the
local level control on-site sanitation systems such as pit
latrines and septic tanks.

Lao PDR

Diﬀerent governmental agencies control diﬀerent
areas of water environment management in Sri
Lanka, as summarized in Table 2.11.8. The Ministryof Environment, established in 2001, is the national
authority for formulating policies and guidelines
for conservation of the environment and natural
resources. Under the ministry, the CEA is responsible for
implementation of policies and regulations pertaining
to environmental pollution control and management.
The CEA was established in 1981 as the authority withregulatory powers to control, manage and enhance theenvironment.
Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA)(Source: created based on information from CEA)

Republic of Korea- Mahaweli Authority Act No. 23 of 1979
- North Western Provincial Environmental StatuteNo. 12 of 1990

Other acts related to water environmental management

Japan- Local Authori�es Act(for municipal and urban councils and Pradeshiya Sabah)- Irriga�on Ordinance Chapter 453- Na�onal Water Supply & Drainage Board Act No.2 of 1974
- Water Resources Board Act No. 29 of 1964

Indonesia

the EIA process

China- Cons�tu�on of the Democra�c Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka- Na�onal Environment Act No.47 of 1980 as amended by
No. 56 of 1988 and No. 53 of 2000

Cambodia

Environmental Conserva�on (Overall)

113

5.3 Ambient Water Quality Standards(AWQS) under the National Environmental (Ambient
Water Quality) Regulations, No. 01 of 2019. According
to this standard, no person shall discharge, deposit or

Ambient water quality standards

Table 2.11.9 shows the ambient water quality standards

Table 2.11.9 Sri Lanka’s Ambient Water Quality Standards (2019)

Other

Nutrient

GeneralNo.

Parameter

Unit

Category A

Category B

Metal

Category E

Category F

1ColourPt mg/L, max

20

-

-

100

-

-

Electrical ConductivityµS/cm, max

-

-

-

-

700

-

3

Turbidty

NTU, max

5

-

-

-

-

-

4

TSS

mg/L, max

5

Total Hardness(as CaCO3)

25

-

40

1,500

2,100

-

mg/L

250 des
600 max

-

-

-

-

-

-

6

pH

6.0–8.5

6.0–9.0

6.0–8.5

6.0–9.0

6.0–8.5

5.5–9.0

7

DO at 25°C

mg/L, minimum

6

5

5

4

3

3

8

BOD5 at 20°C

mg/L, max

3

4

4

5

12

15

9

COD

mg/L, max

10

10

15

30

-

40

10 NO3-N

mg/L, max

10

10

10

10

-

10

-

-

0.94

-

-

9.1

-

-

0.59

-

4.9

-

-

0.22

-

-

1.6

NH3-N pH < 7.5
11 7.5 ≤ pH < 8.5

mg/L, max

8.5 ≤ pH
12 PO4-P

mg/L, max

0.7

0.7

0.4

0.7

-

-

13 Chloride (CI)

mg/L, max

250

-

-

250

600

-

14 CN

mg/L, max

0.05

0.05

0.05

0.05

0.05

0.05

15 F

mg/L, max

1.5

-

-

1.5

-

-

16 SO42–

mg/L, max

250

-

-

250

1,000

-

17 Cd, totalµg/L, max

5

-

5

5

-

5

18 Cr, totalµg/L, max

50

-

20

50

-

50

19 Cu, totalµg/L, max

-

-

100

-

-

100

20 Fe, totalµg/L

300 des
1,000 max

-

-

2,000

-

-

50

-

-

21 120 ≤ Hardness < 180

Microbes Organic Micro Pollutant

Category D

2

Pb, total Hardness < 120

2µg/L, max

50

-

3

22 Mn, totalµg/L, max

1,000

1,000

1,000

1,000

1,000

1,000

23 Hg, totalµg/L, max

1

1

1

1

2

2

180 ≤ Hardness

4

24 Ni, totalµg/L, max

70

100

100

100

200

100

25 Se, totalµg/L, max

10

10

5

10

-

-

26 Zn, totalµg/L, max

1,000

-

1,000

1,000

2,000

24,00027 B, totalµg/L, max

-

-

-

-

500

-

28 As, totalµg/L, max

50

50

50

50

50

50

29 Al, totalµg/L, max

200

-

-

-

5,000

5,000

30 Phenolic compoundsµg/L, max

2

5

2

5

5

5

31 Oil/Greaseµg/L, max

100

-

100

100

-

300

32 Anionic surfactants as MBAS µg/L, max

1,000

1,000

1,000

1,000

1,000

1,000

2

-

-

20

-

-

33 MCPAµg/L, max

34 Pendimethalinµg/L, max

35 Total Coliform

MPN/100ml, max

36 Fecal Coliform

MPN/100ml

Note: ‘des’ means desirable and ‘max’ means maximum

114

Category C

2

-

-

20

-

-

10,00010,000-10,000--500 des
1,000 max

500 des
1,000 max

-

-

-

-

(Source: Government of Sri Lanka 2019)

Chapter 2: Country Profiles of Water Environmental Management in WEPA Countries

2. Category B: water sources suitable for bathing
and contact recreation

4. Category D: water sources that require generaltreatment process for drinking

Water quality monitoring framework

Parameters

Mahaweli River

12

Once a month

Dadugam Oya

12Once a month

Benthota River

12

Once a month

Mahaoya

12

Once a month

Kandy Lake

10

Kurunegala Tank

12

BOD, COD,
TSS, pH,
Coliform,
Every three months Phosphate,
Nitrate,Once a month
Heavy metals

Gregory Lake
Nuwara Eliya

12

Once a monthNuwara Wewa
Anuradhapura

12

Once a month(Source: CEA 2019)

Measures against non-compliance
There are several enforcement instruments forwater environment, such as Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA), Environmental Protection Licensing(EPL), Scheduled Waste Management License (SWML),
Environmental Protected Areas, Directives to Local

Viet Nam

Once a monthThailand17

Sri Lanka

Kelani River

In principle, effluent quality is self-monitored by thedischarging industry concerned or laboratory assignedby the CEA. Effluent quality reports may be submitted
at least once a year, to the actual monitoring bodyconcerned decided by the CEA. Industries also submit
effluent quality reports from third party laboratories
recognized by the CEA. However, not all industries havemonitoring facilities and the CEA occasionally monitors/
inspects effluents discharged from such biannually or
annually, as well as investigates suspected cases of noncompliance such as those based on complaints received
from the general public.

Philippines

Frequency

Effluent inspection procedure
Nepal

Monitoring
pointsMyanmar

Water body

Malaysia

Table 2.11.10 Water quality monitoring in major water bodies

Lao PDR

The CEA is authorized to conduct water quality
monitoring, which is carried out by environmental
pollution control unit and water quality monitoring
laboratory. The CEA possesses a main laboratory at the
Head Office and 9 Provincial and District laboratories
and private laboratories are also registered once in two
years to cater the environmental monitoring needs. The
National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB)
conducts water quality monitoring at water intake points
for drinking water purification – in total 340, including
70 groundwater intake points. CEA conducts regularwater quality monitoring in 12 main water bodies,with additional or random monitoring in other areas
conducted on an as-needed basis, and has ambient water
quality monitoring projects for diﬀerent river basins, as
shown in Table 2.11.10. The first water sampling took
place in the Kelani River, which is a major source ofwater supply, in 2013. Online water quality monitoring
commenced in 2017. In the same year, monitoring

The standards for discharge of wastewater into theenvironment were published in Gazette Notification No.
1534/18, dated 01/02/2008, and termed as the National
Environmental (Protection & Quality) Regulations No.
01 of 2008 Wastewater Discharge Standards. Proposed
eﬄuent discharge standards are based on the pointof discharge and the type of eﬄuent identiﬁed by theEnvironmental Pollution Control Unit of EPC Division.
Tolerance limits and values exist for industrial anddomestic wastewater as well as effluent based on
the mode of discharge into coastal or marine waters,
inland surface water, land for irrigation purpose andso on. Further, specific tolerance limits and values areprescribed for activities related to rubber manufacturing,processing or modifying industries, textile and apparelsector industries, tanning industries and public sewer
systems. In the proposed regulation sea out falls (long& short) and near shore, more stringent standards canbe imposed if possible regarding the need to protect thewater environment from hazardous waste landfills.

Republic of Korea

6. Category F: water sources of minimum quality
outside of categories A to E

Effluent discharge standards

Japan

5. Category E: water sources suitable for irrigation
and agricultural activities

5.4 Effluent Standards

Indonesia

3. Category C: water sources suitable for aquatic
life

China

1. Category A: water sources requiring simple
treatment for drinking

expanded to 16 water bodies (rivers, tanks, reservoirs),
and in 2020 is now conducted on a comprehensive basis.
The Sri Lanka Land Reclamation & Development
Agency carries out canal water quality monitoring in the
Colombo area at 23 locations, while agencies such as theWater Resources Board and International Water
Management Institute are also involved in groundwater
monitoring.

Cambodiaemit any pollutant into inland surface waters exceeding
AWQS. There are six categories under AWQS, classified
by suitability for different uses/purposes:

115

Government Authority on Solid Waste Management,
Environmental Recommendations (ER). The EPL scheme,
which started in 1990, is required for all entities in the
country that discharge wastes into the environment, asprescribed by a regulation published under the NEA,
and licenses vary according to the pollution potential of
an industry (Type A, B and C). Additional enforcement
arrangements are made by other agencies, such as
the Water Resource Board, which grants approval forgroundwater withdrawals for commercial uses, MEPA,
which requires discharge permits for discharging
wastewater to the sea, and Mahweli Authority, which
protects reservoirs coming under their purview.
Non-compliance or violation results in suspension orcancellation of licences and filing of cases, as well as
minimum ﬁnes of 10,000 LKR, imprisonment or both, as
determined by the NEA.

6 | Recent Developments inWater Environmental Management
In 2020, a comprehensive river water monitoring
program was started to strengthen the ongoing rivermonitoring program. It is being implemented along 25
main rivers at monitoring points determined based on
physical factors and pollution sources. Monitoring is tobe carried out by central and provincial labs of the CEA.
Further, to avoid duplicity, NWSD will share water quality
data from its intake points. This overall monitoringprocess is to form the basis of the master plan for rivermonitoring. After analysis of the data, monitoring will befurther strengthened to cover industries and implement
pollution control measures.
In 2020, implementation of a program to protect the
Kelani River was initiated. The river is nationally
important as a water resource supporting fisheries,hydro-electricity generation, sand mining, and main
water supply source for Colombo. Around 10,000
industrial activities are located along the river. Pollution
in upstream areas results from agricultural run-off fromtea plantations, whereas downstream areas are affectedby high contamination due to urban run-off, industrial
discharge, and leachates of haphazardly disposed solid
waste. The program aims to maintain and improve water
quality by undertaking server activities planned for the
short, medium and long term. In the short term (early2020), it plans to conduct GIS mapping, locate andidentify pollution sources, monitor industrial activities
through a monitoring team, and carry out water quality
monitoring (including establishing online monitoring116

stations) and awareness programs. In the medium term(by 2020), activities are to include investigation ofindustrial and domestic waste dumping, analysis of wasteloads, initiation of legal action against unauthorizedindustries, and implementation of the second phase of
online monitoring. After 2020, the program plans to
install CCTV linked to CEA to observe effluent discharge
from large industries, continue establishing online
monitoring stations, and develop a comprehensive
database to analyse trends in water quality.
Surakimu Ganga National Environmental Programme
was started in 2021, as a national river protection
programme based on the Sustainable Environmental
Management which emphasized in the 8th chapter ofthe manifesto “A vision for a Resurgent, Prosperous
Country” released by the Hon President of Sri Lanka.
The ministry of Environment, the CEA and stakeholder
agencies including local government are working
together in this programme to protect the 103 riverine
systems in Sri Lanka. The ultimate goal is to control waterpollution, restore, manage eco system functions and get
the maximum beneficial use from such rivers.
The programme is implemented through interministerial coordinating committee, District Committees
and Divisional Committees island wide. Initially 27
perennial rivers were selected for thorough investigationof issues and to take remedial measures to overcome theriver water pollution. The ongoing water quality
monitoring programmes and other actions taken so far
by the stakeholder agencies will be coordinated andnetworked through “Surakimu Ganga” programme.
In the proposed NEA amendments new regulations
on environmental damage compensation, introductionof the polluter pays principle, legalization ofenvironmental clearance, and control over groundwaterpollution are included.

7 | Challenges and Future Plans
The lack of proper institutional coordination is a major
challenge since water sector management is divided into
several sections under different ministries or agencies.
Similarly, different sections of water management are
spread across several laws and regulations, meaning
compliance monitoring and enforcement thereof
remain an ongoing challenge. There is also a needfor considerable improvement as regards resources
allocation from the national budget, such as forhiring staff for field monitoring and inspection andlaboratory analysis. The lack of baseline data as well as

Chapter 2: Country Profiles of Water Environmental Management in WEPA Countries

Cambodia
China
Indonesia
Japanlimited sharing of available data are further barriers to
improvements in water environmental governance. The
lack of financial and technical resources often hampers
regular monitoring as well as the establishment of newmonitoring stations. Failure to self-report by industry
is another prominent challenge as some industries
lack the resources and capacity to monitor and reporttheir compliances. Industries, in particular SMEs, lackthe financial resources such as for treating wastewater.
Further, the high costs of construction and operationof centralized WWTP as well as public resentment andprotests over WWTP establishment remain as challenges
for wastewater treatment in cities.

Republic of Korea
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Myanmar
Nepal
Philippines
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Viet Nam

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