Dateline Dispatches: Around the World in Ten Days
DAY FIVE Tuesday, 21 November 2000

Colombo

SRI LANKA: Interest Intensifies

After the global launch in London, the most intensive media interest came, unexpectedly, in Sri Lanka.

l-r: Tilak Ranviraja, Jeremy Bird, Shiravese Yasaratne

Some 30 reporters, and twice as many interested officials and concerned citizens gathered at the WCD's first Regional Consultation venue in the capital to find out what the Report meant for the country's 47 large dams in operation and for new projects, including the planned Upper Kotmale dam.

WCD Forum member Tilak Ranaviraja, former Secretary of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development, indicated that a committee would be established to review the report and send its findings to the Forum meeting in February. An interministerial Committee for monitoring dam safety and performance has already been established (see DAMS issue 7)

Mr Ranaviraja was joined at the podium by his successor, Mr S. Niyongada and Secretary for Irrigation and Water Resources Mr. S Benduscia. Keynote speakers included IUCN Country Rep. Shiravese Yasaratne, who pointed to the opportunity that the Report provides to stimulate dialogue at a local level and move beyond current conflicts.

Whatever the review committee says, with dozens of journalists attending - 3 television and radio producers - there is little chance that the Report will go unnoticed.