Coping with water scarcity

Water is the first sign of life. The availability of water or the potential for water to be generated is always a hopeful sign that there may be life on a planet. This precious, life-giving resource is important for all living beings every minute of the day, but it regains a special importance when World Water Day is celebrated every year on March 22.

The theme for this year's event is 'Coping with water scarcity', and the celebrations will be spearheaded under the leadership of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

This theme highlights the need for co-operation and the importance of a combined approach to the

Water is life; don’t waste it.

 management of water at local, national and international levels. Water scarcity has been identified as an area requiring joint UN action.

The most important areas when dealing with limited water resources are; addressing equity and rights and cultural and ethical issues. Imbalances between availability and demand, the lowering of the quality of groundwater and surface water, competition between sectors, disputes which occur between regions and nations all focus on coping with scarce water resources.

This year's theme was decided among all members of UN Water at the World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden in August 2006. The Secretariat for UN Water, based in New York, is serving as the first point of contact within the UN system for this project.

The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The United Nations General Assembly designated March 22 of each year as the World Day for Water by adopting a resolution.

This day was to be observed starting in 1993, conforming with the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

Another important day celebrated this week

March 21 - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Rathnavali Exhibition

Rathnavali Balika Vidyalaya, a leading girls' school in the Gampaha district, celebrated its 60th anniversary on February 28. To mark this occasion, the school organised an educational exhibition, 'Rathnavali @ 2007', from February 28 to March 4.

There were over 100 stalls at the exhibition with many government departments

 such as the Coast Conservation Department, Agricultural Department, National Institute of Fisheries and Nautical Engineering, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Sri Lanka Prisons,

Sri Lanka Army and state banks displaying their products and services to educate children.A section of the exhibition was inaugurated by a special guest every day.

An FM Radio station was launched by the media unit of the school in the frequency range of 96.1 in the

Gampaha district. Parallel to the exhibition, various competitions were held. Every

 evening, an outdoor aesthetic show was held, with many invited schools taking part beside Rathnavali. On the final day, a lottery launched in aid of the indoor stadium and the aesthetic unit was drawn.

Principal Ms. H. A. H. Jayawardane, Vice Principal, Ms. Padmini de Silva, assistant principals and teachers helped the students in numerous ways to make this event a success.

Thilangani Bandara,
Rathnavali Balika Vidyalaya, Gampaha.