Land is a very controversial and emotion issue. It can change governments. Water even more so, said Nanda Abeywickrama, former Secretary to the Ministry of Lands and Land Development, and one of the founding directors of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
In his retirement at his home in Borella, Abeywickrama looks back at the various land and water policies which were brought in to manage the natural resources of this island of 65,610 square kilometres. In his book Natural Resources and Environment Management Policy: Sri Lanka Experience and Future Directions, he traces his own journey from government officer to advocate for sound environmental policies.