This document summarizes Sri Lanka's activities related to the Asian Soil Partnership. It discusses Sri Lanka's response to COVID-19 and priorities under each pillar. Under Pillar 1, Sri Lanka continued implementing soil conservation policies and promoting awareness. Under Pillar 2, Sri Lanka participated in a TV program for World Soil Day. Under Pillar 3, Sri Lanka conducted research on integrated plant nutrient systems and establishing new research centers. Under Pillar 4, Sri Lanka participated in the AFACI project involving digital soil mapping. Under Pillar 5, Sri Lanka contributed to the Soil Atlas of Asia by providing digital soil maps and a country profile.

1. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
Item 1
GSP developments of
regional interest
Ms. Lucrezia Caon
NENA Soil Partnership coordinator
Item 2
Sri Lanka
National updates
Dr. Ajantha De Silva
Additional Secretary (Agric. Technology)
Ministry of Agriculture,
Sri Lanka.

2. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
General Situation of Sri Lanka 2020
COVID-19 impact
• Jan-April: Whole Country
Lock Down
• May - Aug: Partly open
• Aug onwards: Open under
New Normal Conditions;
• Started working all sectors
under COVID19 prevention
measures with localized lock-
down when needed
• Priorities given to online and
desktop activities

3. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
Main activities implemented in the country
under Pillar 1
Strategy: Regulation of legal and policy framework
• Implementation of the Soil Conservation
Act No. 25 (1951) - being continued
• Prioritize and declare sensitive areas for soil
conservation - being continued
• Promote adoption of soil conservation
measures in all land categories - being
continued
• Enhance awareness on soil conservation
among stakeholders through
demonstrations, trainings, mass media and
technical advisories - being continued

4. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
• Reutilizing abandoned paddy lands: Crop recommendations
(non-perennial) for abandoned paddy lands of Category B - being
continued
• Increasing on-farm water productivity: Increasing water
conveying efficiency and application efficiency (micro irrigation) -
being continued
• Sustainable use of shallow ground water: Study shallow ground
water availability – spatial and temporal variation and prepare
guidelines and recommendations for safe use of shallow ground
water - being continued
• Water saving technologies: Developed & technology
dissemination is in progress (Rain water harvesting technologies)
• Watershed management: Technology developed & technology
dissemination is in progress)
Pillar 1: Promote sustainable management of soil resources for
soil protection, conservation and sustainable productivity
Strategy: Management of land and water resources through analysis and synthesis of
information along with technology demonstration
Multifunctional soil
conservation bunds
for mechanized
rain-fed uplands
in the dry zone

5. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
Main activities implemented in the country
under Pillar 2
Encourage investment, technical cooperation,
policy, education, awareness and extension in
soil

6. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
What did your country do on the World Soil Day?
Due to COVID pandamic we had to limit our activity just to partcipate for a
TV program on themae in “SIYATHA TV”

7. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
Main activities implemented in the country
under Pillar 3
Promote targeted soil research and development focusing on identified gaps, priorities
and synergies with related productive, environmental and social development actions
• IPNS for many crops
• Reccoemdations on use of bio fertilizers and organic fertilizeres to cut
down inorganic fertilizer imports.
• Research on Soil erosion and Conservation
Establish a New Research Site at Kundasale, Kandy only for soil
conservation reserach
• Establish sustainable agriculture research and development center to
work on organic and bio agents for soil productivity

8. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
Main activities implemented in the country
under Pillar 4
AFACI Project
• Online technical staff training
• Digital soil mapping : SOC
• Salinity mapping
• Carbon sequestration potential mapping
• Soil property mapping
• Problem area mapping

9. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
Publication Year 2020
Springer
Publication Year 2020
Springer

10. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
Main activities implemented in the country
under Pillar 5
Soil Atlas of Asia
Participate for editorial board. Dr. Vitarana
• Digitatl soil map of Sri Lanka calssified according to word
Reference and submitted
• Country profile submited
• Partcipated for all online meetings

11. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
Thanks for
your attention