JAPAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY News FROM

May – August 2015 • NUMBER 5 • sRI LANKA E02 Expands Outreach and Services with JICA

Assistance Sri Lanka Streamlines Weather Tracking

JICA Volunteer Contributes to Develop Palmyra Products

INSIDE

E02 Expands Outreach and Services with JICA Assistance Pages–1 & 2 Water for the Needy at Page–3 Outer Circular Expressway – Phase II – final touches in progress Replanting Coconut to Regain Rural Livelihoods The Kaduwela to section of capital, an additional interchange Page–4 Outer Circular Expressway was constructed subsequently in JICA’s Role in the (E02) is the latest transport sector Athurugiriya. Environmental Sector in project financed by JICA towards Sri Lanka The Outer Circular Expressway Pages–5 & 6 enhancing economic development of Sri Lanka Streamlines Sri Lanka. JICA provided financing extends the Southern Expressway Weather Tracking for both the Kottawa-Kaduwela and (E01) northwards from Kottawa Pages–7 & 8 Kaduwela-Kadawatha sections of Interchange. The E02 will also Achievements of Two 20 Year-old JICA Projects the E02 toll expressway. The Road allow vehicle speed up to 100km/h, Page–9 similar to E01, of which 66km Development Authority under the JICA Volunteer Ministry of University Education were financed by JICA. Once the Contributes to Develop 3rd section from Kaduwela to Palmyrah Products and Highways implements the Outer Page–10 Kerawalapitiya is completed, the Circular Expressway project. JICA Issues Landslide Outer Circular Expressway will link Mitigation Project The first section of E02 was opened Southern Expressway and Colombo Review to the public earlier with a major Expressway. It will Helping Hands interchange at Kottawa and a then act as a North-South artery for the Disabled in and temporary interchange at Kaduwela for Colombo bypassing the inner east (Kotalawala), which is now part city area, thereby easing traffic Page–11 of the main Kaduwela interchange. congestion in the city. Fun and Learning at JICA Children’s Day In order to provide better access Page–12 to the expanding administrative contd. page 2 Project News May – August 2015 • NUMBER 5 • sRI LANKA Page 2 freight transportation to and from JICA in the these zones. In order to enhance the expressway Media use and operation, JICA also Shaken,shocked but safe provided grant assistance to Sunday Observer 5/3/2015 establish Intelligent Transport System (ITS) facilities on the Cabinet Decisions -Project expressway network. The 940 for the developmentof the Bandaranaike International Outer Circular Expressway – Phase II million JPY worth grant included Airport- stage II consists of viaducts in the flood-prone traffic counters and rain gauges for Dinamina areas data collection, traffic monitoring 5/29/2015 and control center for data Second phase of Outer Circular To construct the section from monitoring and management, Highway to open on June 20 Kaduwela to Kadawatha, JICA and Variable Message Signboards Dinamina 6/3/2015 provided concessionary loans to (VMS) at roadside and access roads the value of JPY 37,406 million for information dissemination. 27,400 Million Japanese aid under Special Terms for Economic These facilities are now operational for Development of Power Partnership with an interest rate of Transmission Network between Kaduwela and . Dinamina 0.2% and 40-year repayment period. 6/24/2015 This section includes 8.9km of In addition to financing nearly 4-lane expressway, two interchanges 50% share of the operational Japan provides Human Resource Development (Kaduwela and Kadawatha) expressways in Sri Lanka, JICA Scholarships for Sri Lankan including toll plazas and facilities, is also financing the second new public sector and a 6-lane expressway bridge Kelani Bridge for easing congestion Daily FT 7/24/2015 across Kelani River in Kaduwela. The at , the northern entry 2 outer lanes of the bridge have been point to Colombo city. JICA’s Upper Kotmale Hydro project: designed to be accessible to traffic recent assistance to transport JICA’s value addition benefits infrastructure at outside the expressway, as a further sector in Sri Lanka include Sunday Island measure of easing congestion on the technical cooperation to formulate 7/26/2015 Kaduwela bridge upstream. Located the urban transport master plan National Transmission and in close proximity to Biyagama EPZ for Colombo metropolitan area Distribution Network and and Sapugaskanda Industrial zone, and feasibility study for monorail Efficiency Improvement the E02 is also expected to improve system. Project Colombopost.net 8/11/2015

New Bridge over Kelani River Dinamina 8/28/2015

CALENDAR September – December

October JCC of Project 27/2 JOCV Batch arrivals Third Country Training Programme for CQI & TQM November Young Leaders Programme in Japan - 17 participants ITS control center in Gelanigama Project News May – August 2015 • NUMBER 5 • SRI LANKA Page 3 Water for the Needy at Beruwala

JICA will provide Rs. 108 Mn grant to Sri Lanka to construct a 2,000 cum pre- stressed concrete ground reservoir at Beruwala, as a pilot demonstration project for the National Water Supply and Drainage Board.

This is the first time that the construction of the pre-stressed tank with the air dome is being undertaken in Sri Lanka, although it is common in Japan. They are quick to construct, uses minimum land, is cost effective and are highly durable. The construction of the tank is An example of a pre-stressed concrete tank under construction. expected to be completed within Kogyo Co. Ltd., Japan and KDA (NWSDB) Senior managers a six months period. The project Weerasinge & Co (Pvt) Ltd., Sri Eng. D.U. Sumanasekara, Addl. will ensure technology transfer Lanka for the construction of GM (Water Supply Projects), by providing training in Japan 2000m3 capacity pre-stressed Eng. T.W.S. Perera, Deputy to engineers of the Water Board concrete ground reservoir General Manager (RSC - so that they can design and at Beruwala. The Japan Western South) and Eng. construct PC tanks with the air international cooperation M.M. Umar Lebbe, Assistant dome technology in future. agency (JICA) Sri Lanka office General Manager (Japanese Representative Mr. Yusuke Project Unit) participated in The Contract agreement was Shinozaki, National Water the contract agreement signing signed between Abe Nikko Supply & Drainage Board ceremony.

Project Area: Beruwala, Aluthgama and coastal towns in the district of the Western Province. Project Benefits: About 192,000 residents of Beruwala, Aluthgama and Bentota will receive 24/7 supply of pipe born safe water with 15,000 new connections. Issue to be Addressed: currently only 17,000 consumers can receive pipe born water supply/per day: Beruwala: 12 hrs; Aluthgama: 4 hrs; Bentota: Few hours on alternate days . Dug wells are saline and existing wells are located close to septic tanks. The Need: To increase the current storage capacity of 1350m3 at Beruwala by additional 2000m3 Project News May – August 2015 • NUMBER 5 • SRI LANKA Page 4 Replanting Coconut to Regain Rural Livelihoods JICA Project rehabilitates the North

the factory. Coconut oil with its regained place in the market is a much-valued commodity used not only for cooking but also in cosmetics. It is a nourishing hair oil used daily by Sri Lankans, who attribute many health- giving qualities to it.

From time immemorial coconuts have been part of the Sri Lankan lifestyle. It is used daily in food preparation with its milk in curries, the scraped coconut in salads, chutneys and sweets, the oil in frying and the husks in the fireplace. Sri Lankans have made use of every part of the tree for domestic as Coconut trees are such as construction of well as industrial use. The dried multifunctional and a agriculture wells in addition leaves are woven and used in sustainable food crop with many to the provision of coconut thatching roofs of rural houses uses for every part of the tree. seedlings, papaya plants, etc. and the production of coir rope The decades of war decimated for cultivation. from the fibre of coconut husks this much used tree that grew is a cottage industry. The flower in plenty on the rich arable JICA has established a buds grace many religious and lands in Northern Sri Lanka. As coconut oil processing celebrative occasions and an a major component of JICA’s factory in Iranapalai in the endless stream of products and Rural Livelihood Development Puthukkudiyiruppu area. The artifacts are produced from Project, replanting of women of the district have been every part of the tree. coconut trees commenced trained to use the machinery in in Puthukkudiyiruppu in the Mullaitivu district in 2012. The aim is to ensure sustainable livelihoods for the resettled farmer families in the emerging Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts.

JICA is one of the major partners for resettlement and rehabilitation of conflict areas in Sri Lanka. This five year technical cooperation project includes many components Project News May – August 2015 • NUMBER 5 • SRI LANKA Page 5 JICA’s Role in the Environmental Sector in Sri Lanka

JICA’s focus on environmental issues has become more intense recently, in parallel with the increasing challenges to the environment brought about by climate change. Over the last few decades, JICA has intervened on various occasions to support the Government of Sri Lanka’s initiatives to safeguard the environment. A strong advocate of sustainable development JICA sees solid waste management and sewerage as a very important component of environmental protection. Ms. Tomo Nagano demonstrates the use of garbage separation bins JICA, under its development at the Zoo cooperation scheme is currently implementing multiple “Development of Pollution and strengthen the capacity programs for solid waste Control and Environment of the Central Environmental management in Sri Lanka. Restoration Technologies of Authority (CEA) and its regional These include working on Waste Landfill Sites, Taking branch offices in the Kelani ways to improve waste landfill into Account Geographical river basin, on water quality sites, waste recycling and Characteristics of Sri Lanka,” management. composting, monitoring water Organic Fertilizer Project Data Collection Survey on quality of major water bodies, at Kundasale, Solid Waste Management data collection on solid waste in Sri Lanka management for improving and Producing organic fertilizer developing current techniques, by recycling garbage and the A five member JICA mission raising awareness of issues and related primary verification conducted a data collection the compilation of a Strategic survey will produce good quality survey on Solid Waste Master Plan for the Sewerage organic fertilizer at a screw type Management in Sri Lanka, from Sector. composting plant that is being August 2015 to February 2016, constructed at Kundasale, at the request of the Central Improving Waste Landfills Kandy. Environment Agency. JICA is implementing a five- The Project for Monitoring JICA Volunteers’ role in year project in cooperation the Water Quality of Major solid waste management with the National Solid Water Bodies activities Waste Management Support Center (NSWMSC) to manage This Technical Cooperation Japanese volunteers attached landfills in the country titled, project by JICA aims to build to local authorities have been Project News May – August 2015 • NUMBER 5 • SRI LANKA Page 6

Mr. Keisuke Ikuta, JOCV, with school children in an environment cleaning activity in actively supporting solid The Project for the Capacity development in the waste management and have Strategic Master Plan sewerage sector. complemented programs under Sewerage Sector conducted by relevant host Waste Water Treatment institutions at grassroots level. JICA is supporting the Plant using Ozone preparation of a strategic Oxidation Method for Organic Composting by the Master Plan for the sewerage Milco Digana Factory Takakura Method sector to: This verification survey JICA introduced the Takakura Compile a National Sewerage intervention will improve method, which is a fast, easy Master Plan for Sri Lanka under the wastewater management and cheap organic waste the Sewerage Sector. capacity of the Milco Factory composting method that at Digana by adopting the produces compost in two weeks Prepare a City Sewerage Master Ozone Oxidation method using using local microorganisms as Plans for prioritized cities. Swirling Jet technology. accelerators. Conduct Feasibility Studies for Kandy City Waste Water the selected cities. Management Project

The project scope includes the construction of a Wastewater Treatment Plant (14,000 m3/ day capacity); the main pump house and supply of operation and maintenance equipment; establishment of a sewerage collection system, and providing connections and facilities for the densely populated low- income areas of Kandy. Organic fertilizer plant under construction in Kundasale, Kandy Project News May – August 2015 • NUMBER 5 • SRI LANKA Page 7 Sri Lanka Streamlines Weather Tracking JICA builds sustainability into weather reporting

The project is preparing new manuals containing measuring parameters and methodology for periodic maintenance and calibration of observation equipment. In addition rules for observing and recording data is being revised, new standard instruments to calibrate equipment is being procured and Dr. Ishihara has commenced a training program for staff at DoM.

L to R --Mr. S.R.Jayasekera, Director, Ms. A.R. Warnasooriya, Deputy The vertical tripod like structure Director in discussion with Dr. Masahito Ishihara, JICA Expert at the on the grounds of the DoM is Meteorology Department. an Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) and collects data every During the last half a century The project commenced in 10 minutes and contributes over 90 percent of the natural September 2014 to achieve the to improving the weather disasters that has overall goal of disseminating observation capacity. The suffered from were weather information by DoM that project has installed such 38 related calamities such as floods, will be well utilized by the AWSs across the island and 28 droughts, landslides triggered public and the disaster related of these are currently active. by heavy rainfall, lightening organizations. and strong cyclonic winds. The project aims to strengthen Cumulatively calculated the It goes without saying for the the meteorological data number of people in Sri Lanka information to be relevant and communication network by who have been affected by these useful to the target audience it transiting from the unstable weather related disasters is a has to be accurate and timely. VSAT satellite communication staggering 13 million. The need “Accuracy invariably depends system to the IP-PVN system to predict and issue accurate on the precision of observation operated through ground weather forecasts and warnings equipment used to collect data,” communication networks. This and/or alerts is a critical need as says Dr. Masahito Ishihara, includes the implementation of extreme climate related natural JICA Volunteer Senior Expert. the connecting tests to ensure hazards are becoming more He is in Sri Lanka on a two- communication line stability frequent with global warming. year assignment with the and training of DoM staff as well DoM. “Equipment needs to as implementing the technology JICA in cooperation with the be calibrated according to transfer and support for the Department of Meteorology international standards, and the transition. (DoM) is now implementing project has taken several steps “The Project for Improving to improve the maintenance In another effort to bring Meteorological Observation, and calibration capability of the Sri Lanka in line with other Weather Forecasting and DoM.” Dissemination” in Sri Lanka. contd. page 8 Project News May – August 2015 • NUMBER 5 • SRI LANKA Page 8

Rainfall (mm) is also in the project pans. This will enable the visualization of textual information, provide easy to see weather information, advisories and warnings and make the website compatible to be accessed by smartphone users. Training of DoM staff to upload information and products as well as in switching over to the new system will also be carried out by the project.

Additionally, it is heartening to learn that annually 30,000 school children make visits to the DoM. A Japanese expert team is working within the project to produce animated cartoons to teach school children disaster awareness and how best to respond during a calamity.

Producing the daily, monthly, and seasonal forecasts issued by DoM involves a whole complex procedure. Data sets are gathered through 24/7 observations; online satellite maps of Japan that shows the The website http://www.meteo.gov.lk provides maps weather patterns around Sri visualizing textual information. Lanka are reviewed (these get updated every 10 minutes) countries the project will Numerical Weather Prediction and comparison are made procure a new binary data (NWP) using the observation with previous data sets. The format GTS message switching date of the AWSs. NWPs experience and skill of staff system as recommended by use mathematical models of comes into play when it comes the World Meteorological the atmosphere and oceans to interpreting the data to make Department. to predict weather based on accurate forecasts. current weather conditions. Dr. Ishihara also explains four The Japanese Consultant Team other efforts by the project to The second effort will be consists of 6 Japanese experts bring improved forecasting and a review of the criteria for and Dr. Ishihara is the resident an understanding of weather advisory/warning of impending long-term expert. Two short- patterns to mitigate disasters in disasters to improve them. The term experts from the Japan Sri Lanka. changes will make it possible to Meteorological Agency (JMA) give warnings for specified areas visit 4 times a year for two Of these, the first is to shift of the island for heavy rainfall, weeks to work with the project, from qualitative forecasting strong winds and lightening. strengthening the relationship done at present to quantitative between DoM and JMA. forecasting. This will entail the Updating the DoM website to a use of Grid Point Values and the more dynamic animated website Project News May – August 2015 • NUMBER 5 • SRI LANKA Page 9 Achievements of Two 20 Year-old JICA Projects

The Dental Hospital in use of the facilities through Peradeniya and the Mahaweli a complimentary Technical System C Demonstration Farm Cooperation project. The are two examples of successful treatment of more than Japanese interventions in Sri 80,000 out patients per year Lankans. provides teaching and learning opportunities for the faculty. Dental Hospital It is the only hospital running (Teaching), Peradeniya under the Ministry of Higher A Japanese grant aid project Education in Sri Lanka. “We Processing rice seeds at the Mahaweli in 1998, upgraded the are proud to say that no other System C Demonstration Farm Dental Hospital (Teaching) hospital in Sri Lanka provides system necessary to increase in Peradeniya, constructing similar dental services,” said the yield and the income of new physical facilities and Prof. Thilakaratne. farmers. providing modern equipment Mahaweli System C The Japanese expert’s for teaching, patient care and Demonstration Farm knowledge is still valued and research. “This hospital is applied at the farm and most of an invaluable gift from the The second example is the Ma- the current senior officers were Japanese people to Sri Lanka haweli System C Demonstra- trained under this project. “The and we are still using 20 year tion Farm in Dehiattakandiya, farm provides 100 percent old equipment with care to Mahiyanganaya. The exper- guaranteed quality rice seeds cater to the patients as well as imental and demonstration to meet the entire demand the students of the Faculty,” farm and research centre was of the Mahaweli system of says Prof. W M Thilakaratne, set up in Unit 1 of Block 302, paddy farming,” said Mr Sudu Dean and Professor of Oral system C in the existing Ma- Banda ex counterpart of the Pathology, Faculty of Dental haweli Ganga Development project and Deputy Director Sciences. Project area. Unit 1 is consid- of Agriculture, Mahaweli ered to be the most suitable In addition staff members, Authority of Sri Lanka. “Sri of all designated development academic and non-academics Lanka’s first rice processing area for paddy cultivation and were trained in the proper machine was established thus the most appropriate for under this project,” he added. experiments on and extension of improved rice production Currently the farm is running technology. The Grant Aid as an agricultural training Programme of the Japanese center and 3 batches with a Government constructed and total of 120 students have provided facilities for the Pilot already completed their Demonstration Farm in Sys- training and received National tem C of the Accelerated Ma- Vocational training level 4 haweli Programme. Further, (NVQ4) certificates. The aim the project undertook the reha- of the training centre is to Dental Hospital (Teaching), bilitation of the vital irrigation upgrade the level of teaching to Peradeniya NVQ 5 level. Project News May – August 2015 • NUMBER 5 • SRI LANKA Page 10 JICA Volunteer Contributes to Develop Palmyrah Products ;,a ksIamdok ixj¾Okhg chsld iafjÉPd fiajl odhl;ajh ,yq;ifapd; gid mgptpUj;jpapy; Ia;f;fh njhz;lhpd; gq;fspg;G

,yq;ifapd; tlf;F kw;Wk; cs;Sh; cw;gj;jpahsh;fSf;F fpof;F khfhzq;fspy; mtrpakhd njhopy;rhh; cmka cd;Hka;r iyfhda.s;d fle;j %d;W jrhg;j mwpTiufisAk; El;gq;fisAk; wdh;kfha ;,a ixj¾Ok cs;ehl;L Aj;jj;jpdhy; ghupa toq;Ffpd;whh;. wêldßhg wkqhqla;j mopTfSf;F cs;shd gid iafjÉPd fiajfha kshq;= jw;NghJ kPz;Lk; Gj;Japh; ngw;W fhdfld ljdfi uy;añh gy kf;fspd; gpujhd tho;thjhu 2014 wf.daia;= ui isg fï Jiwahf vOr;rp ngw;Ws;sJ. olajd weh i;= ;dlaIKsl ,jd; cw;gj;jpg; nghUl;fshd yelshdj fnodfoa' czTg; gz;lq;fs; kw;Wk; iftpidg; nghUl;fs; cs;ehl;L kj ks¾udK" is;a weo. kf;fis kl;Lkd;wp Rw;Wyhg; kakd wdldrfha fj<| gazpfisAk; ngupJk; l=á mj;ajdf.k hdu yd fth;e;Js;sJ. l=vd lKavdhï ksIamdok b;du Wiia m%ñ;sfhka iy tlfpof;fpy; gid mgptpUj;jp ;;ajfhka hq;a ksIamdok rk;ge;jkhd nraw;ghLfSf;F fj<|fmd,g y÷kajd§ tYt+l;Ltjw;fhf [g;ghd; fiajlhka Èßu;a lsÍu rh;tNjr xj;Jiog;G Kftu; wehf.a wNsm%dhhs' epWtdkhd Ia;f;fh (JICA) jdJ [g;ghdpa fly;fle;j xj;Jiog;G njhz;lh; epfo;r;rpj; Ms. Yoko Kawase is a marketing specialist attached to the jpl;lj;jpd; fPo; re;ijg;gLj;jy; Palmyrah Development Board in since August 2014, as Jiwapy; epGzj;Jtk; tha;e;j a JICA Volunteer. She provides technical instructions to the nry;tp NahNfh fthNria board as well as to the small-scale producer groups. She focuses Mf];l; 2014,y; gid on improving the quality of the end products, promoting new mgptpUj;jp rigapy; njhz;luhf innovative inventions and maintaining attractive sales outlets. ,izj;jJ. njhopy;rhh; epGzj;Jtk; kw;Wk; mDgt ghpkhw;wiy gpujhd Nehf;fkhff; nfhz;l njhz;lh; epfo;r;rpj; jpl;lj;jpd;gb nry;tp fthNr re;ijg;gLj;jy; kl;Lkd;wp cw;gj;jpg; nghUl;fs; kw;Wk; tpw;gid epiyaq;fspd; juj;ij NgZtjpYk; gid mgptpUj;jpr; rigf;F ngUk; gq;fhw;Wfpd;whh;. mj;Jld; gyjug;gl;l r%f kf;fspd; njhlh;Gfspd; %yk; Efh;Nthhpd; uridf;Nfw;wthW gid cw;gj;jpfspd; [a;f;fh njhz;lu; nry;tp NahNfh fthNr juepu;zaj;ij NgZtjpy; kf;fSf;F njhopEl;g mwpTiu toq;Ffpd;whu; Project News May – August 2015 • NUMBER 5 • SRI LANKA Page 11 JICA Issues Landslide Mitigation Project Review

JICA’s Technical Cooperation Dr. Asiri Karunawardena, for Landslide Mitigation Director General National Project commenced on the Building Research 14 October 2014. A massive Organisation presented the landslide on October 29, 2014 findings in a paper titled in Koslanda in the “Disaster Management in Sri district resulted in an aerial Lanka” at the International survey for the first time in Sri Sabo Symposium 2015 in Lanka. In addition the project Sendai. conducted a field Survey in November and interviews The 6 months review report of with the affected persons and the project is now available on related local governments in the Internet at: http://www. February 2015. jica.go.jp/srilanka/english/ office/topics/150624.html . Helping Hands for the Disabled in Anuradhapura and Ratnapura Over the years many Lanka. Two such volunteers works with differently-abled JICA volunteers have are Ms.Aiko Kodaira, a children at the Child Guidance enthusiastically supported and volunteer physiotherapist Center (CGC) in Ratnapura. conducted several programs who works in Anuradhapura for the differently-abled in Sri and Ms Serena Echizen, who

Ms. Kodaira’s administers physiotherapy and Ms Echizen supports CGC services such as a pre-school conducts physical exercise programs for the elderly for differently-abled children, conducting games, and the young. Several local volunteers have learned physical exercises, and story telling. She has recently basic skills from her and are able to assist others in introduced Japanese 5s principles aimed at creating a need of such help. better work environment at the CGC Project News May – August 2015 • NUMBER 5 • SRI LANKA Page 12 Fun and Learning at JICA Children’s Day JICA Sri Lanka office opened its doors to the children of staff members on 25 August 2015, and the day turned into a fun filled learning experience for them. The children were free to observe the working environment and sit and twirl around in their parent’s chairs. Senior staff members were at hand to answer any questions they had.

The children also visited the JICA funded project at the Meteorology Department and they were briefed on how the daily weather forecasts were compiled.

Contact Us

Editor for JICA News from Sri Lanka Kiyoshi Amada, Chief Representative, JICA Sri Lanka.

JICA Sri Lanka Office 10th & 13th Floors, DHPL Building, No. 42, Nawam Mawatha, Colombo 02, Sri Lanka.

Tel: (+94) 011–2300470 Fax: (+94) 011–2303692 Email: [email protected] Web: www.jica.go.jp/srilanka/english/index.html

https://www.facebook.com/jicasrilanka

http://www.youtube.com/user/JICASriLankaOffice