FROM News Sri Lanka Project News FROM News Sri APRILLanka – JUNE 2017 ● NUMBER 12 ● SRI LANKA Page 1
APRIL – JUNE 2017 ● NUMBER 12 ● SRI LANKA
Japan Provides Relief Assistance To Are You Interested in Studying in Japan?
Victims And Expertise To Resolve Here We Offer a Great Program for You! Meethotamulla Garbage Crisis
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Japan Provides Relief Assistance To Victims And Expertise To Resolve Meethotamulla Garbage Crisis
Pages 1 & 2
Disaster Risk Reduction: JICA to implement Sendai framework
Page 3
Japan Disaster Relief Expert Team Assists Sri Lanka In Response To Heavy Rainfall and Flooding
Page 4 & 5
Young Leaders Training Programme for Nurses
Page 6
JICA Grants JPY 2.5 billion worth Doppler Weather Radar to strengthen the Sri Lanka’s real-time rainfall monitoring H.E. Kenichi Suganuma; Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Fusato Tanaka; Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka officially handed over the emergency relief items from Japan to the Minister of Page 7 Disaster Management Hon. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa at the Ministry of Disaster Management JICA Volunteer Supports Activities At The Dehiwala Zoo hen the Meethotamulla Garbage dump collapsed cooperation between Japan and Sri Lanka in the field Page 8 Wtriggering a challenging humanitarian crisis for of solid waste management with a view to providing the government of Sri Lanka, Japan was one of the first a long-term solution to this recurring problem. A Helping Hand From JICA For Upkeep Of Bridges In Sri countries to respond to the disaster with emergency Lanka relief supplies for the victims and also the despatch of a Japan was one of the first Page 9 team of experts to help resolve the garbage crisis. Channeling Knowledge From countries to respond to the Japan To Sri Lanka For Japan sent a team of 11 technical experts in the areas Cascade Master Plan Project of geotechnical engineering, solid waste and landfill disaster with emergency Page 10 & 11 management, urban development and public health, relief supplies for the victims CEA And JICA Launch etc. who visited the site, and held a series of meetings Pilot Project On Garbage with relevant stakeholders to discuss measures and also the despatch of a Management Page 11 for secondary disaster risk reduction and waste team of experts to help resolve management along with providing technical advice. JICA Volunteer Supports Early Childhood Education The team also explored the possibility of future the garbage crisis And Development in Sri Lanka
Page 12
Contd. page 2 FROM News Sri Lanka Project News
APRIL – JUNE 2017 ● NUMBER 12 ● SRI LANKA Page 2
From page 1
At the end of their assignment, the team had final disposal in Colombo Municipality and a meeting with the President of Sri Lanka surrounding areas. JICA In the Maithripala Sirisena and presented their report The report strongly recommended prohibiting any MEDIA with short-term and long-term recommendations, firing activities including smoking to avoid fire at JICA extends helping hand which Sri Lanka could consider to address the the disposal site. Once a fire breaks out at the site, to upkeep Lankan bridges issue effectively. it would take a very long time to be extinguished, Daily Mirror The report noted as Short Term measures for the which will significantly inhibit smooth recovery 4 April 2017 safe management and prevention of secondary and stabilization operation of the collapsed site. Japan provides emergency disaster, it is important to install early warning It was also reported that public awareness should relief to Meethotamulla victims systems based on rainfall, maintain dump shape be raised on such issues in order to prevent further in the short term, un-change the shape of waste disasters. Divaina 18 April 2017 ups layers and shape waste layers only after The report concluded with the assurance that Handing over of the stabilization of the dump is confirmed through all Japan is willing to consider future cooperation Japanese expert team’s monitoring indicators. in the field of waste management through close report on Meethotamulla As Mid-Term measures, the team suggested the consultation with the Sri Lankan authorities and Lankadeepa stabilization of the site through a comprehensive will be ready to continue discussion with Sri Lanka 25 April 2017 approach including gas control and water drainage, following the findings and recommendations 3R’ system to the rescue - Japanese Assessment leachate control and treatment, assessment of soil presented in the report. Report modulus of the dump, and shaping the dump into Daily Mirror stable slopes. 3 May 2017 The report recommended that the social and The report recommended that CEA and JICA launch a environmental aspect should be carefully taken into pilot project on Garbage the social and environmental Management account for the planning and implementation of aspect should be carefully taken Daily Mirror future waste management in the western province. 19 May 2017 Specifically, environmental impact that can be into account for the planning Access Engineering’s expected on the site and surrounding areas such as and implementation of future construction of major groundwater, road access and transportation plan bridges of national road network gathers pace should be carefully considered. waste management in the Daily FT The report also recommended that 3R activities western province 22 May 2017 (reduce, reuse, recycle) and intermediate Japan hands over disaster processing, once properly implemented, will be an relief goods for flood and effective measure to reduce waste volume for landslides victims Daily Island 1 June 2017 Japanese experts to arrive on Saturday
Daily Mirror 1 June 2017 How to cope with disaster: Lessons from Japan
Sunday Times 11 June 2016
The team of Experts had a special meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena and several Ministers to report their findings. Joining the team was the Ambassador for Japan Kenichi Suganuma FROM News Sri Lanka Project News
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Disaster Risk Reduction: JICA To Calender July – September Support Implementation Of Sendai 2017
Framework July
• Signing of Concessionary Loan Agreements for Rural Infrastructure Development Project in Emerging Regions and Kalu Ganga Water Supply Expansion Project
• Reporting session of Counterpart Training Programme on Improvement of Development and Management of Tank Based Irrigation Systems
August
• Pre-detailed Planning Mission on Northern Dairy Development Project
Presentation at the seminar jointly conducted by JICA and Ministry of Disaster Management • Public Consultation ICA has been conducting a study to confirm be referred for the formulation of NDMP. Meeting with residents in the current situation and the priority issues JICA is keen to support GOSL’s effort to realize Kandy on JICA Technical J Cooperation Project on ‘The on the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) sector in a safe and resilient Sri Lanka! Project for Formulation of Sri Lanka to implement the Sendai Framework Greater Kandy Urban Plan’ on DRR 2015-2030 which is set as global goals on DRR at 3rd UN Conference on DRR. The Ministry of Disaster Management and The Ministry of Disaster September agencies under its purview, as well as other Management and agencies relevant authorities have been discussing with under its purview, as well • Opening ceremony of new JICA on the issues and drafted a Roadmap as a complex for Automobile as other relevant authorities Engineering Training summary of the discussion. Institute, funded by On 15th May, JICA jointly held a seminar with have been discussing with JICA under New Bridge the Ministry of Disaster Management to share Construction Project over JICA on the issues and drafted Kelani River and exchange all important stakeholders’ opinions and views and share the roadmap a Roadmap as a summary of for DRR efforts of the country to mainstream the discussion. DRR in all development efforts. At present, Ministry is developing a new National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) 2018-2022. Based on this NDMP 2018- 2022, the Sri Lanka Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (SLCDMP) is to updated. The proposed Roadmap is expected to FROM News Sri Lanka Project News
APRIL – JUNE 2017 ● NUMBER 12 ● SRI LANKA Page 4 Japan Disaster Relief Expert Team Assists Sri Lanka In Response To Heavy Rainfall And Flooding
The expert team had a meeting with Minister of Disaster Management Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and other officials
team of Japan Disaster Relief commenced their mission with an aerial The floods and landslides A(JDR) Experts were in Sri Lanka in survey of the affected areas. response to the damages from the floods The team then did a field survey by caused by the heavy and landslides caused by the heavy visiting the disaster sites this week rainfall wreaked havoc in rainfall since May 24 around Southern and working closely with the officials the Southern and Western and Western areas of the country. of Ministry of Disaster Management, The floods and landslides caused by Irrigation Department, and the National provinces of the country the heavy rainfall wreaked havoc in Building Research Organization. destroying homes and the Southern and Western provinces On 9th and 10th June, the team reported of the country destroying homes and the results to Secretary to the President P livelihoods and even livelihoods and even claiming over 200 B Abeykoon, Hon. Minister of Irrigation claiming over 200 lives. lives. According to the Government of and Water Resources Vijith Vijayamuni Sri Lanka, as at end of May, 202 people Zoysa and Hon. Minister of Disaster died, 96 people were missing, and over Management Anura Priyadharshana 800,000 people have been affected. Yapa. The team also participated The Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Expert in a media briefing arranged by the Team arrived in Colombo and had Ministry of Disaster Management with a kick-off meeting with Hon. Anura the Japanese Ambassador Kenichi Priyadharshana Yapa, Minister of Suganuma. Disaster Management of Sri Lanka and
Contd. page 5 FROM News Sri Lanka Project News
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From page 4
The Japanese Disaster Relief Expert Some of the pre-disaster investment The report noted that this disaster Team concluded that Sri Lanka’s recommendations for the Sri Lankan provided an opportunity for Sri Lanka to infrastructure is not strong enough to Government were: early warning build a safer and more resilient country withstand a rainfall as we experienced systems, methods for dissemination of based on the ‘Build Back Better’ concept last May. Member of the team, Takeya information to remote areas, resettlement to prevent the same disasters happening Kimio, noted that the country had not away from risk areas, hydrometeorology in the same place every year. invested in coping with disasters of such and landslide observation systems, and magnitude and disasters were to be investing in disaster risk reduction for expected when the country experienced sustainable development. a heavy rainfall.
The team of experts inspect some of the disaster sites FROM News Sri Lanka Project News
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Young Leaders Training Programme For Nurses
The selected trainees with JICA Senior Representative Toru Kobayakawa and other officials
team of 17 young nurses attached to A pre-departure orientation for the Athe Health Sector of Sri Lanka were participants was held on 21st June invited to Japan under the ‘Lifestyle- in Colombo with the participation of Related Diseases Prevention Course’ representatives of Ministry of Health. from 25th June to 12th July 2017. The team consisted of nurses engaged in the field of Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) Management in the country from all over the country attached to 17 healthcare institutions from Primary Healthcare Units to Tertiary hospitals. During the training the nurses got a great opportunity to understand the health system of Japan, such as roles of the national and local governments and many more topics through visits to various Japanese institutions and Ministries and lecture type lessons. JICA hopes that participants of this training program will become nation- building leaders in the future with the knowledge they have gained to develop their specialties through experiencing and learning technologies and skills in A pre-departure orientation for the participants was held in Colombo with the Japan. participation of representatives of Ministry of Health. FROM News Sri Lanka Project News
APRIL – JUNE 2017 ● NUMBER 12 ● SRI LANKA Page 7 JICA Grants JPY 2.5 Billion Worth Doppler Weather Radar To Strengthen The Sri Lanka’s Real-time Rainfall Monitoring The Project will cover the procurement and installation of C-Band Pulse Compression Solid State Dual Polarization (Polarmetric) Meteorological Doppler Radar System and technical training
JICA Chief Representative Fusato Tanaka and Dr Samaratunge at the signing
ICA signed a Grant Agreement with Mass Media was followed by the signing Jthe Government of Sri Lanka on of Grant Agreement between Dr. R.H 30 June 2017 to provide two Weather Samaratunga, and Mr. Fusato Tanaka, Observation Doppler Radars to the Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka Department of Meteorology (DOM). Office. The Project for the Establishment of a This Grant Aid Project is expected to Doppler Weather Radar Network” will improve capacity of DOM to accumulate, cover the procurement and installation analyze the weather forecasting of C-Band Pulse Compression Solid information such as rainfall, speed and State Dual Polarization (Polarmetric) direction of wind throughout the country Meteorological Doppler Radar System as well as disseminating early warning and technical training. based on those data. JICA hopes that The Exchange of Notes between the this will contribute Sri Lanka to mitigate Ambassador of Japan Mr. Kenichi serious damage by weather-related Suganuma and Dr. R.H Samaratunga, disasters. Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and FROM News Sri Lanka Project News
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JICA Volunteer Supports Activities At The Dehiwala Zoo
Ms Sayo Yamao trains a young seal to do tricks
s Sayo Yamao has been working where food is not directly fed to animals, increased interaction between staff at Mfor the National Zoological but it is creatively concealed so that the zoo hospital and zoo keepers (which Gardens (NZG) in Dehiwala for the past animals have to make an effort to find would, for example, reduce instances of seven months. She is one of 71 JICA their food. The purpose of this exercise is over feeding of the animals). She also volunteers currently working in the to reduce the monotony that comes as a mentioned that improvement could be country, in response to requests made result of direct feeding, and stimulate the brought about by revising the feeding by the Government of Sri Lanka. Her mental and physical activity of animals, times, wherever appropriate, and paying assignment at the NZG entails working whilst trying to reduce the time and more attention to cleanliness. on animal breeding, enrichment, animal motivation for misbehavior. Ms Yamao Ms Yamao is a licensed veterinary nurse training and healthcare. has also introduced new menus for the who has worked for seven years in a Animals in the zoo miss living in their animals, and is currently training sea Japanese safari park, with both captive natural habitat, and therefore, as a part lions to perform new tricks at the daily and non-captive animals. She certainly of their work, zoo keepers try to conduct Sea Lion Show. seems to be enjoying her assignment at different types of enrichment activities Ms Yamao conducts activities in the Dehiwala Zoo. such as habitat, feeding and sensory collaboration with local zoo keepers, who enrichment programs to uplift their have been motivated by her support, natural behaviors. It is this activity that sharing of knowledge, and expertise. Ms Yamao is currently trying to support Whilst noting that the local zoo keepers by using her expertise in this field. She are knowledgeable and experienced, has introduced puzzle feeding activities she stated that the health of animals for Chimpanzees, Orangutans and Tigers, could be further enhanced if there is FROM News Sri Lanka Project News
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A Helping Hand From JICA For Upkeep Of Bridges In Sri Lanka
Fusato Tanaka, Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka Office hands over the keys to a new Bridge Maintenance Vehicle to the Hon. Minister of Higher Education and Highways
brand new bridge maintenance But inspection and maintenance of this bridge maintenance vehicle. We hope Avehicle from Japan was gifted bridges are more complex and difficult RDA will make good use of the Japanese by Japan International Cooperation than on road sections, and may get technology and experiences shared, and Agency (JICA) to the Road Development postponed or disregarded. ensure a safe and smooth drive for the Authority (RDA) of Sri Lanka in April. “Our technical cooperation hopes to road users in Sri Lanka”, said Fusato The special vehicle has a working assist RDA to address these issues by Tanaka, Chief Representative of JICA Sri platform which could be extended from setting up a bridge management system Lanka Office. the truck to reach under the bridge deck, at RDA together with equipment such as so that the critical but hard to reach locations could be inspected and rectified in time. The vehicle worth over 47 Million Japanese Yen (approx. 86 Million Rupees) is gifted under JICA’s technical cooperation project for Bridge management. “Maintenance of bridges is especially important not only in terms of protecting infrastructure assets constructed with public funds, but also in terms of public safety. The potential risk of grave damage is greater in bridge infrastructure. FROM News Sri Lanka Project News
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Channeling Knowledge From Japan To Sri Lanka For Cascade Master Plan Project
counterparts participated in the training from Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resource Management, Ministry of Agriculture and provincial governments of Northern and North Central Provinces. During this intense two-week program which took place in May 2017, they learned about Japanese technologies, institutional structures and actual experiences in order to feed back into the cascade development plan. The training was designed to give the full picture of Kagawa’s irrigated agriculture from engineering, agricultural, organizational and marketing aspects. Site visit to Shikaike Land Improvement District in Kagawa In Sri Lanka, the dry zone ri Lanka is known for a wide variety and management, infrastructure area from Anuradhapura Sof climate zones that exist within management, agriculture, livestock and a rather small island. But the Shikoku institutional development to assist the and southern Vavuniya island of Japan (3.4 times smaller than central and provincial governments has one of the oldest Sri Lanka) also has a significant variation to come up with a comprehensive –Kochi Prefecture received 2967mm of development plan for the coming new cascaded reservoir rainfall in 2015 (3rd highest in Japan), era of irrigated agriculture in the cascade systems in the country, a staggering contrast from 1210mm region. (4th lowest) for the neighboring Kagawa Considering its experiences, JICA survey whose origin dates back a Prefecture over a mountain range team selected Kagawa Prefecture as a few thousand years (Statistics Bureau of Japan). This gap location for a counterpart training. From resulted in development of the 14,619 high officials to field officers, 15 project reservoirs in Kagawa, and ultimately of Kagawa Yosui Canal of 106km that diverts water from high rainfall area to Kagawa. In Sri Lanka, dry zone area from Anuradhapura and southern Vavunia has one of the oldest cascaded reservoir systems in the country, whose origin dates back a few thousand years. Under Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program, 128 of these cascade systems will receive water from the southern wet zone after the completion of North Central Province Canal. A JICA survey team is conducting studies on cascade level water balance Participants at a discussion with Mokokuike Water Use Association Contd. page 11 FROM News Sri Lanka Project News
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Some of the participants shared their experiences: From page 10
“Japan study tour was incredible “I could witness the mutual cooperation experience to me in-terms of Japanese between prefecture government respect, punctuality, response and bodies and farmer driven Agriculture specially their irrigation management Cooperatives (NOKYO) that drives the technologies used for cascade system profitable value chains for sustainable development towards sustainable agriculture” agriculture development which adopted good agricultural practices” Mr.P.M.Jayathilaka, Assistant Director, R.Vijayakumar, Agriculture and Irrigation, Assistant Commissioner, Department of National Planning, Department of Agrarian Development, Ministry of National Policies and Vavuniya Economic Affairs
CEA And JICA Launch Pilot Project On Garbage Management The Japanese experts stressed that the project would not cause any environmental damage to the ground water resources, and plant and animal life
the project would be a success if it was implemented with the concerted effort of the political authority, religious organizations, state institutions, and the civil society organizations. Japanese team at the meeting held in Kataragama Pradeshiya Sabha The Japanese experts stressed that he Central Environmental Authority Samaraweera said the project will be the project would not cause any T(CEA) and Japan International completed by the end of 2019. He said environmental damage to the ground Cooperation Agency (JICA) recently the project had been planned by JICA water resources, and plant and animal announced the launch of a pilot project based on a joint research carried out by life. on garbage management. a team of researchers of the Peradeniya Maha Sangha and religious dignitaries The proposed garbage management University and a Japanese university. of the area, senior officials of the Central project, which is a joint venture between Addressing a meeting held at the Environmental Authority and Wildlife CEA and JICA will be implemented in the Kataragama Pradeshiya Sabha Conservation Department, officials of Kataragama, Kurunegala and Ratnapura Auditorium to create awareness among the Police Environmental Unit, and towns. the officials involved in the project, Pradeshiya Sabha Secretary K.L.A.L. Coordinator of the project Ms Nayana representatives of the JICA noted that Jayathileka were present at the meeting. FROM News Sri Lanka Project News
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JICA Volunteer Supports Early Childhood Education And Development in Sri Lanka
Ms Ryoko Omura with some of her students s Ryoko Omura is a JICA volunteer as well as to students following diploma groups of pre-school teachers. Those Mwho worked in support of the early courses in ECED. who benefitted from Ms Omura’s childhood education and development However, she did not limit herself to activities were extremely grateful to her, (ECED) sector in Sri Lanka. She was offering her services only to the OUSL, but and greatly valued what they learnt. assigned to the Open University of also worked with other institutions such Sri Lanka (OUSL), with the aim of as the National Institute of Education, her activities included transferring knowledge to teachers at its and pre-school teacher networks in moving children away model pre-school and day care center, Maharagama and Moratuwa. The objectives Ms Omura from excessive desk work, attempted to achieve helping children develop Contact Us through her activities included: moving independent thinking, Editor for JICA News From Sri Lanka children away from introducing outdoor Fusato Tanaka, excessive desk work, physical activities, Chief Representative, JICA Sri Lanka helping children develop independent thinking, and helping children 10th & 13th Floors, DHPL Building, introducing outdoor develop good habits. No. 42, Nawam Mawatha, Colombo 02, Sri Lanka physical activities, and Tel: (+94) 011-2300470 helping children develop Fax: (+94) 011-2303692 good habits. Email: [email protected] Ms Omura conducted Web: www.jica.go.jp/srilanka/english/index.html several workshops in https://www.facebook.com/jicasrilanka order to transfer her knowledge to various