WEPA Dialogue on Wastewater
Management in Sri Lanka

Dr. R.M.S.K. Rathnayaka
Director (Environmental Pollution Control)
CENTRAL ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORITY

Sri Lanka

Objectives of the Workshop
 To share experience on domestic and industrial
wastewater management in Sri Lanka & Japan
 Inter agency dialogue on water environment
management institutes in Sri Lanka – present
constraints and capabilities
 How the water environment management of SriLanka could be improved by incorporating
policies, strategies and practices of WEPA
partner countries.

1Participants
 Sri Lanka (35)

◦ All Relevant government Institutions◦ Research Institutes/Universities◦ Non Governmental Organizations
 Japan (5)◦ Ministry of Environment◦ Institute of Global Environmental Strategies

Presentations given at the workshop•Environment Responsibility and Constraints in pollution
control for Industrial sector. – Min of Industry Sri Lanka•The state of water environment and its management in
Asian countries from the experience of WEPA - Japan•Industrial wastewater management in Japan.- Japan•Domestic wastewater management in Sri Lanka-National Water Supply & Drainage Board, Sri Lanka•Environmental Regulations in Sri Lanka- Central Environmental Authority, Sri Lanka•Reviewing of effluent discharge standard in Sri Lanka- University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

2Facts discussed ..
 Establishment of a plan by the Japanese Ministry ofEnvironment for reduction of total pollution load byprefectural Governments and Regulations.
 Japanese experience and mechanisms in Water

quality monitoring Revision of Provisional effluent Standard values

every 3 to 5 years.
 Apply tentative standards according to the pollution

intensity
 Increase Budget related to pollution control.(Increase5 times)

Contd…..
•Resource recovery prior to discharge of wastewater eg.
Metal Finishing industry. Japan’s central TP for metal
finishing clusters. Subsidized treatment of small industrial
Wastewater•Laws of waste management.
•Dumping Tax impose by Japan•Inland water pollution•Physical legal & Development tools practiced in Japan.
•River categorization/classification of Japan.
•Up stream Water quality Standards•Ambient Water quality Standards depend on water usage•Effluent discharge Standards•EPL procedure its legal aspects practiced in Sri Lanka.

3New Initiatives & Progress Prepare a mechanism for Water quality monitoring.
 Amendment of the Prescribed Activity list (gazetteNo. 1533/16 dated 2008.01.25).
 Introduced a low cost wastewater treatment method

for service stations in terms of assist medium andsmall scale industries.
 Promote safe wastewater use in agriculture.
 Reviewed and drafted new standards for effluent

discharges and introduction of new discharge
modes.

Suggestions for WEPA
 Add more weight on industrial wastewater

management and new policy initiatives among
partner countries
 Initiate introduction of baseline on water

management systems among partner countries
and improve water quality standards for partnercountries by supporting each otherInitiate bilateral funding system to carry out /up grade the existing pollution control strategies
or new projects among partner countries.

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THANK YOUandHAPPY NEW YEAR!

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