Sri Lanka Life-Giving Water and Strengthened Livelihoods

In remote areas of Monaragala, Sri Lanka, communities like Kadurugodagama, Fifth Mile Post and Mauragama rely on shallow, deteriorating wells for drinking water. Most residents are farmers dependent on increasingly unpredictable rainfall, limiting crop yield and income.

Insufficient working capital forces many families to rely on exploitative loans for seeds and fertiliser, trapping them in cycles of debt. Women also face barriers to accessing skills and opportunities beyond farming.

Together with INHAT, INLK, and the New Zealand Government (MFAT), this project is already underway — helping communities move from vulnerability toward resilience and long-term stability.

Objectives

• Expanding access to safe and reliable drinking water
• Providing agricultural water systems to support year-round farming
• Supporting farmers with training, inputs, and market access
• Establishing women’s self-help groups to strengthen incomes and financial independence

Progress so far

• Tube wells installed and households now accessing safe drinking water
• Farmers actively cultivating maize with improved inputs and training
• Chilli farming being introduced as a higher-income opportunity
• Foundations laid for women’s self-help groups across the communities

What’s next

• Supporting maize harvests and post-harvest systems
• Expanding chilli cultivation and completing agricultural wells
• Strengthening market access for farmers
• Launching women’s self-help groups

Impact

This project is helping families move from surviving to thriving — with better access to water, more reliable incomes, and stronger community resilience.

We aim to raise NZD $75,000 in 2026 to provide clean water, improved farming, and income opportunities in Monaragala. Your support can transform lives—please donate today and help us achieve this goal.