Prof. (Eng.) R. L. H. Lalith Rajapakse of the Department of Civil Engineering, Centre Chairman/Director of the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asia Water Management (UMCSAWM) and Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Water Resources Management in South Asia at the University of Moratuwa, represented Sri Lanka at the 32nd Session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrologic Program (IHP) Regional Steering Committee for Asia and the Pacific (RSC-AP) held from 21st to 23rd October 2025 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The event was organized by the IHP and Vietnam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change (IMHEN), and brought together representatives from UNESCO Water Family institutions, IHP National Committees, and regional experts to discuss advances in water science, management, and climate resilience. Prof. Rajapakse presented Sri Lanka’s Country Report, the UMCSAWM Annual Report, and the UNESCO Chair Report, and participated in plenary sessions contributing to the regional discussion on IHP-IX Strategic Plan (2022-2029), which identifies key water priority areas to support Member States to achieve the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He also met with officials from the National Centre for Water Resources Planning and Investigation (NAWAPI), Vietnam to explore collaborations in hydrological data management, groundwater monitoring, and climate adaptation. The visit was expected to strengthen UMCSAWM’s global partnerships and benefit Sri Lanka’s national water sector.
