Expolanka’s spring water channel project for indigenous community at Rathugala village
View(s):Expolanka Holdings, in line with the group’s CSR programme ‘Outreach’ CSR arm funded a spring water channel project to provide fresh pipe borne water to the indigenous community in Rathugala consisting of around 450 members.
In consultation with Environment Authority, Water Board and the Madulla Divisional Secretariat, Expolanka used the fresh water spring ‘Peele Kandura’ situated 2 km away from the Rathugala village to build the water supply system using the force of gravity to gain water pressure, the company said in a media release. Rathugala is home to one of the oldest clans of Sri Lanka’s indigenous heritage.
Speaking about the project, Paddy Weerasekera, Head of Marketing, Corporate Communications and CSR said, “Outreach is one of our four-pronged CSR strategies which pledge to actively take measures to assist various communities in Sri Lanka to resolve some of their immediate challenges.
Rathugala water project was one such measure that we took to alleviate the water crisis that the indigenous community in Rathugala was forced to endure every year during the dry season.”
In the words of R.M.R.L. Tilakaratne – Divisional Secretary of Madulla Divisional Secretariat, “The village faces a dry season of six months each year. Even though the village is surrounded by mountains and natural springs can be found within those mountains, the people suffer from lack of proper water supply.”
Rathugala community leader Sudaa Wannilatho expressed his gratitude towards Expolanka saying, “This is a great initiative and now we can get water for our daily activities and use water for our farming without hassle. We’ve been hoping for this for years and we’ve finally got our wish. As a leader, I want to express my gratitude to you all for this on behalf of my people”.