Cabinet Approves Rs. 646 Mn JICA Grant for Kelani River Monitoring 📈

The Cabinet of Ministers has cleared a Rs. 646 million project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to enhance industrial wastewater monitoring and data-driven environmental policymaking. • Funding & Collaboration: A Rs. 646 million grant under the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) program. The project involves the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), University of Moratuwa, and Tohoku University. • Key Focus: Strengthening post-review monitoring of the Kelani River, a critical water source for industrial and domestic use. The initiative aims to address existing gaps in tracing pollutant origins and analyzing large-scale environmental data. • Technical Infrastructure: Development of an advanced data management framework to overcome current shortages in trained personnel and technical facilities at the CEA. • Economic Impact: Improved enforcement of Environmental Protection Licences (EPL) and more efficient regulation of industrial wastewater disposal, supporting sustainable industrial growth and protecting national water security.