News
Photo focus: Jayaralapura a waterless village
The site of the ‘ovens’ where villagers prepared dried fish are now overgrown and covered with weeds
Hundred families -villagers from -Jayaralapura’ in Weligama- took to the streets last week to raise awareness of the severe water shortage affecting their village.
The nearest source of potable water is located one km away and though they have raised the problem for over 15 years, no solution from the authorities has been forthcoming. The nearest bathing place too, is a kilometre away.
As a result, both the young and old have to trek a km for water for drinking and washing purposes.
This lack of water has also led to the shutting down of the drie fish industry which was a source of self-employment and income to the village.
Inoshika Krishanthi (33), a mother of four, has taken to supplying water to houses in the village for a fee.
She treks multiple times a day collecting water which she supplies to residents for a fee, which brings her an income of Rs. 500/ per day, meaning she walks 20 km daily.
These hapless villagers are demanding the authorities to take notice of the dire straits they are in and provide the village of Jayaralapura with a continuous supply of water.
Poor villagers have to walk at least a km in the burning heat to have a wash or a bath
With no water for washing or potable water families store the precious liquid in containers such as these shown in our picture
Inoshika Krishanthi making her daily 20 km trudge to fetch water.
To raise awareness of their plight the villagers of Jayaralapura in Weligama were forced to take to the streets