The government of Sri Lanka has embarked on a massive development programme of the country in all spheres of the economy, with the conclusion of war in May 2009. Sri Lanka is witnessing a new era with a rapid increase especially in infrastructure development projects. With the annihilation of the threats of terrorism, new prospects in satellite and space related technologies and their applications are flourishing.

The National Wetland Atlas 2011 has used confusing and inappropriate classifications. Many man-made wetlands have been treated as naturally occurring, tanks have become lakes, and a large number of ponds have become nondescript entities. The number of inland wetlands estimated is far less when compared to other known sources of data, creating reasonable doubt on the reliability of the exercise. This article emphasises the need for releasing the complete geo-coordinates and areal data sets, and undertaking accurate assessments of the numbers and water spreads of tanks and ponds.

Soil erosion is a world-wide challenge for sustainability of agriculture especially in the tropical region. The rates of soil erosion that exceed the generation of new topsoil are a dynamic process which leads to decline in the soil productivity, low agricultural yield and income. The balance between soil-forming and depleting processes is of utmost importance for attaining long-term sustainability in any production system. Land degradation in the form of soil erosion is a major problem in the semi-arid region of Lower Chambal Valley.