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In 1992 the UN General Assembly declared 22 March of each year World Day for Water. This was to remind everyone of the importance of conserving clean drinking water for the generations to come and that it should be done through a world-wide effort. The General Assembly also proclaimed the period from 2005 to 2015 the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life" to commence on World Water Day this year. President Kumaratunga in her message to mark the Day warned that water pollution was happening at an alarming rate and Sri Lanka should be careful for according to UN reports we too may face an acute water shortage by the year 2025. “The whole world is surprised at the irrigation management methods of our forefathers that did not waste even a drop of water falling from the sky. We who are the inheritors of such a proud history for should for a moment consider whether we are now using our water resources in the proper manner,” said the President. Full text of the message‘Water for Life’ has been selected as the theme of this year’s World Water Day. Despite the fact that 3/4th of the earth’s surface is covered by water, it is only less than 1% of it that can be used by man. According to UN reports and the opinion expressed by scientists most of the countries of the world will face an acute shortage of water by the year 2025. We should be concerned about it as Sri Lanka too is named amongst those countries. If we are to face that crisis successfully we will have to use our water resources under proper management. Water pollution takes place at an alarming rate as a result of human activity. Today there are difficulties in getting clean water in urban as well as in rural areas. The whole world is surprised at the irrigation management methods of our forefathers that did not waste even a drop of water falling from the sky. We who are the inheritors of such a proud history for should for a moment consider whether we are now using our water resources in the proper manner. The National Water Supply and Drainage Board has over the past decade started several projects to provide clean water to the urban as well as rural people. In addition to the urban and rural community water supply projects, the recently started projects, namely, ‘Vehi Pan Kalasa’ (Pot of Rain Water) and ‘Game Wewe Linda’ (The Well in the Village Tank) have been a great boon to drinking water management. At the same time the National Water Supply and Drainage Board was engaged in a commendable service in providing drinking water to those affected by the recent tsunami. Let us resolve to conserve for ever the water resources that give life not only to the human beings but to all living beings on earth, for the safe use of the future generations without limiting to this World Water Day alone. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
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