Sri Lanka based institute wins world’s “most prestigious” award for water research

Sri Lanka- based IWMI (International Water Management Institute) was presented with the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize at the annual World Water Week held in Stockholm last month.  

Director General of IWMI, Dr Colin Chartres received the prize from the King of Sweden, His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf at a Royal Prize Ceremony and Banquet held in Stockholm City Hall on 30 August.

“It is an incredible honor for all of us and I‘d like to thank the award committee for recognising IWMI’s work with such a high-profile accolade,” said Dr. Chartres. “The real winners, however, are IWMI’s dedicated staff who, for just over a quarter of a century, has consistently delivered scientific research of the highest quality. Our work has had a profound influence on water management policy throughout the globe, delivering real benefits for some of the poorest people in developing countries. I would also like to express my grateful thanks to our many and diverse partners here in our host country Sri Lanka – ministries, agencies and private sector organisations, whose contribution over the years has been vital to the receiving of this award.”

In March this year, the Stockholm International Water Institute announced its selection of IWMI as the 2012 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate. The Prize was awarded for IWMI’s ‘pioneering research that has served to improve agricultural water management and enhance food security, protect environment health and alleviate poverty in developing countries.’ IWMI is the first international research institution to be recognised for this accolade.

The Stockholm Water Prize is the ‘world´s most prestigious prize given for outstanding achievements in water-related research activities’. As the Stockholm Water Prize Laureate 2012, IWMI received a USD 150,000 prize and a crystal sculpture. The money will be used to assist scientists, particularly women, from poor countries with their career development.  

IWMI has been the driving force in promoting policies and techniques to help farmers produce ‘more crop per drop’, and in implementing solutions that enable agriculture to cultivate enough food to feed the world’s growing population with limited water resources.

In Sri Lanka, working with local and international partners, IWMI has an active portfolio of projects, capacity building and training programs designed to meet local needs. IWMI pioneered the application of the benchmark basin concept to Sri Lanka’s irrigation systems and irrigation water use to help improve their management.

Other ‘firsts’ have been the Sri Lanka National Wetlands Directory and the use of an innovative water accounting system which helped planners determine the amount of usable water in the Kirindi Oya river basin. Current projects include exploring the possible link between kidney diseases and water quality in the North Central regions, improving groundwater quality in the Jaffna peninsula and providing water management expertise to help rural people whose livelihoods has been affected by natural disasters.

Established in Sri Lanka in 1985 under an Act of Parliament, IWMI is the only international  non-governmental  organisation headquartered in Sri Lanka and has regional offices across Asia and Africa.