‘Ape Gama’ hosts water, sanitation, hygiene conference

A two-day workshop entitled the ‘South Asian Student Conference on WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)’ was held on 16 and 17 June at ‘Ape Gama’ in Battaramulla.

The Chief Guest at the inauguration ceremony on 16 June was President Maithripala Sirisena. 

An awareness walk was also held with the participation of 400 students, 20 of whom were from seven SAARC countries while the rest were from the country’s nine provinces. 

The workshop was jointly organised by the Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage Ministry and the Education Ministry in collaboration with the Health Ministry, Mass Media and Information Ministry, National Water Supply and Drainage Board, National Community Water Supply Department, Regional Centre of Sanitation, United Nations Children’s Fund and PLAN Sri Lanka. 

Promoting water, sanitation and hygiene among schoolchildren is the main objective of the workshop.

A token of appreciation – an intricately handcrafted ladle or ‘Kivissa’, in keeping with the theme of the workshop - was presented to President Maithripala Sirisena by Hasitha Tillekeratne, the Chairman and CEO of the Laksala Sri Lanka Handicrafts Board at the inauguration ceremony.