US assists Sri Lanka on dam and water management

The United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources Management and the World Bank, conducted a training program for 69 Sri Lankan engineers and professors from seven water resource management agencies and three universities.

The training, held from 25 April to 1 May in Thulhiriya, Gampaha District, enabled engineers of both countries to share their expertise and covered areas such as dam engineering, dam safety, evaluation and design, purification, and integrated water resources management.

USBR conducted similar training in Sri Lanka back in 2011 and in August 2012, a team of Sri Lankan engineers attended the ‘Reclamation’s Safety Evaluation of Existing Dams International Seminar and Study Tour’ in the United States to observe American engineers.

At the request of the Dam Safety and Water Resources Planning Project (DSWRPP) of Sri Lanka, the newest World Bank-funded training program included topics such as design of roller compacted concrete and rock-fill dams and provided an opportunity for Sri Lankan engineers to explore the adoption of dam engineering techniques which have high success rates in the United States.

USBR serves as a major water resources management agency for the US Government and provides water and power to the western United States. The Bureau has a worldwide reputation for its expertise and has established international programs hosted by the US Government and other international organisations to provide technical assistance and training to foreign governments.