Aquatic students have completed a Basic Life Saving session in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Life Saving Association.
Inoka Batugedara and Indunil Senanayake
Published in Science & Technology Asia
Kalu Ganga is considered one of the major rivers in Sri Lanka. The river contributes to drinking water supply, domestic water usage, agriculture, mini-hydropower generation, small-scale industries, and recreation. The present research fills the information gap regarding the water quality status along Kalu Ganga. At the same time, only a few attempts have been made using the Canadian
Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI) to interpret water quality conditions in Sri Lankan rivers. Therefore, this study attempted (i) to investigate the temporal and spatial variations in drinking water quality along Kalu Ganga and (ii) to calculate the CCME WQI. Herein, July-October (2020) were considered wet months, while January-February (2021) were considered dry months. Altogether, twenty surface water sampling locations were selected, including six locations in the head zone, seven locations in the transport zone, and another seven locations in the deposition zone. In total, thirteen water quality parameters were measured
on a monthly basis using standard methodologies; these included temperature, pH, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, salinity, dissolved oxygen, biological dissolved oxygen, nitrate, total phosphate, orthophosphate, total alkalinity, total hardness, and chlorophyll-a. CCME WQI was calculated using the total hardness, total dissolved solids, total alkalinity, electrical conductivity,
pH, nitrate, orthophosphate, and total phosphate parameters. All sampling locations were categorised as excellent for drinking according to CCME WQI (95-100), with the exception of sampling locations in the deposition zone with fair-good quality (79-80) during the dry months. Overall, the drinking water in Kalu Ganga was categorized as excellent-fair based on the water quality parametersfor this WQI calculation. However, saltwater intrusion was observed up to 14km from the river mouth during the dry months. Further studies, including heavy metals and microbial parameters, can further develop the WQI.
We are delighted to announce the triumph of hosting three passionate students from Hong Kong, courtesy of the “University Student Sponsorship Programme in Wildlife Conservation 2023/24 (USSP).” This immersive program unfolded over two dynamic weeks, during which the students not only actively engaged in our frontline field research but also gained priceless firsthand experience in the realm of wildlife conservation. The USSP program stands out for providing an exclusive opportunity to Hong Kong university students, empowering them to serve as field volunteers and contribute directly to conservation efforts. As these students seamlessly blended into our ongoing projects, their involvement not only enriched their understanding of conservation practices but also created a valuable cultural exchange. This successful hosting experience underscores the potential for international collaboration in fostering the next generation of conservation leaders and emphasizes the significance of initiatives like USSP in building a global community dedicated to safeguarding our planet’s biodiversity.
In a remarkable display of academic prowess, Ms. K.K.K. Perera and Ms. Nipuni Saumya recently stood out by receiving prestigious awards for their outstanding oral presentations at the Annual sessions of the International Conference of the Sri Lanka Association for Laboratory Animal Science (SLALAS). The conference, held on the 20th and 21st of January 2024, served as a platform for these exceptional individuals to showcase their undergraduate research findings, which were conducted under the expert guidance of Dr. Varuni Gunathilake
