Construction of a fourth reservoir and village school now complete

The Piyasaragama Wewa (tank) in the the Maha Oya division in the Ampara District in South East Sri Lanka is now complete and has filled to spill level during the North East monsoon. IT will cost around £20,000 and will support 110 poor families by brining 20 acres of paddy into cultivation. Much of the area is under light jungle now with a little chena cultivation and paddy. The land is fertile and so once irrigation is available, the farmers will be able to gain a much better income from the land.

A wev sabhawe (village committee) is being set up to manage the tank.

The water table in the area has risen and consequently the vegetation has returned to the area and is thriving. The tank has been stocked with fish, which provide an additional source of food for the villagers who live in this arid area. The World Bank is building 30 houses for families who wish to move into this area now that there is water.

	Photo to follow
Piyasaragama Weva now full.

Senahasa has also completed the extra classrooms being built at nearby, Nuwaragalatenna Maha Vidyalaya, replacing a mud building with a reed roof. The school currently has 750 students and goes up to O'level with a small A'level class. This will help the children to gain an edcuation and improve their employment prospects

The third reservoir has been completed in the Ampara district in SE Sri Lanka. Located in extremely poor areas, the reservoirs provide essential irrigation for crops.The recent monsoon rain will help the tank to fill and will then be available to irrigate fields in the dry summer months.

Construction of third Tank at Arantalawa

Senahasa Trust continues to complete projects and progress major building work in Sri Lanka

Understanding local people and their needs from within communities is a key element of success