The Completed Farmer-Level Database of the CSIAP Officially Handed Over

The Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) marked a significant milestone today (18th) with the official handing over of the completed farmer-level database to the Project Management Unit (PMU). The database, accompanied by a comprehensive user manual, consolidates detailed information on beneficiary farmers across the project areas and is expected to play a pivotal role in strengthening planning, monitoring, and evidence-based decision-making.

Following the handover, the hired IT Professional and system developer, Mr. Sanjay Jayakumar, commenced a two-day technical workshop aimed at equipping project officers with practical skills for effectively using the new system. The sessions are designed to provide hands-on experience in navigating the database, updating and uploading additional data, identifying data gaps, and troubleshooting operational issues. The workshop is conducted under the guidance and patronage of Mr. Saman Bandulasena, Project Director, CSIAP.

During the database development and implementation stage, the Monitoring and Implementation Officers of the CSIAP, led by Mr. G. A. M. D. Gunarathne, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, played a key role in entering and validating field-level data. Their contribution ensured the accuracy and completeness of the system. Additionally, Mr. Jagath Senevirathne, Monitoring & Evaluation Consultant, World Bank, provided technical assistance for designing and refining the database structure, ensuring alignment with the project's monitoring and reporting needs. Monitoring and Implementation Officers representing all six CSIAP provinces are participating in the workshop, highlighting the project's commitment to building capacity and ensuring uniform, efficient use of the system across eleven districts of six provinces.

Story by Asoka Koralage, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, PMU-CSIAP
Photographs by Gayani Dassanayake, PMU-CSIAP

Strengthening Financial Skills: CSIAP Trains Project Accountants on BUSY Software

A one-day workshop on the BUSY Accounting Software commenced today (18th) at the Project Management Unit (PMU) with the participation of Project Accountants of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP). The session aimed to strengthen the financial management capacity of the project’s accounting teams through practical exposure to the widely used BUSY accounting platform. The workshop was conducted by Mr. Dinuka Jayawardena, IT Executive of Soft Vision Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, who guided participants through a comprehensive, hands-on learning experience. 

The training covered key operational areas of the BUSY Accounting Software, including payment processing, journal entries, receipt management, bank reconciliation, and monitoring of outstanding balances. Participants had the opportunity to practice each module, ensuring they gain the necessary confidence to implement the system effectively in their respective offices.

Accountants representing the Provincial Deputy Project Directors’ Offices of the CSIAP attended the workshop, making it a valuable platform for knowledge sharing and strengthening uniform financial practices across the project’s provincial operations. The programme was conducted under the guidance of Mr. Saman Bandulasena, Project Director and supervision of Mr. W.G.N. Abeywickrama, Financial Management Specialist of the CSIAP, whose oversight ensured the relevance and quality of the training delivered.

Story by: J.K. Prashantha, Finance Officer, PMU-CSIAP
Photograph by: Gayani Dassanayake, PMU–CSIAP