The UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asia Water Management (UMCSAWM) is dedicated to achieving regional cooperation through higher education in the vital field of sustainable water resources management. UMCSAWM, located at the University of Moratuwa, is a regional center that recognizes the importance of sustainable water resources management as the backbone of a sustainable world for our future generations.
UMCSAWM is committed to empowering and transforming practitioners to become capable problem-solving leaders relentlessly promoting a sustainable world through sustainable water resources management. The Centre’s focus on two vital parameters – knowledge of the importance and value of water and the sustainability of the development of water infrastructure – is key to saving our precious water and the world from environmental deterioration.
The UMCSAWM project has been in existence since 2010, with seeds sown in 2003 with the conceptual proposal in front of the visionaries. The project was rooted in 2010 with the signing of the project initiation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University of Moratuwa and the South Asia Foundation (SAF). Greened by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2012 with the approval for the Master’s Degree Program and facilitation in 2013 with the commissioning of the Centre Building, the flowing of benefits to the world began with the first intake in August 2013.

Prof S. M. A. Nanayakkara, Former Head of the Department Auspicious Milk Boiling Ceremony on the Inauguration Day - 2013

This is the 10th year of the Centre, and the Regional MSc Program, with its ongoing 7th Intake, has so far hosted 52 full‐time regional overseas students from SAARC countries and 96 local participants. UMCSAWM has also organized the UMCSAWM Water Conference 2017 and six international workshops benefiting a large crowd of civil engineering practitioners and others in the water sector. Additionally, the Centre is engaged in pioneering water research in areas of relevance to South Asian countries, and measures are in discussion to expand the Centre’s activities further.
We invite you to explore our website and learn more about UMCSAWM’s initiatives and contributions towards a sustainable world through sustainable water resources management.