Community Wells Project

A significant number of displaced families in the Trincomalee District have been re-settled. However, INGOs and donor organizations have often pinpointed to the lack of adequate water, including safe drinking water and basic sanitation, as one of the basic stumbling blocks to successful re-settlement, re-integration and livelihood recovery.  Community wells could be considered as a strategic stating point in order to put a village “back on track” towards resilience and wellbeing. Two villages in Kinniya (Velankullam and Nadoothuthu) have been identified for the pilot. Their residents have suffered waves of displacement during the armed conflict. Today they are seen to travel between 500 meters to one kilometer in order to access a functioning well, particularly during the dry season. Most houses are typically between 150-200 meters apart, and although some basic wells were recently dug, they could only be put to use for rainwater harvesting during the wet season. We intend to start by creating 30 community wells for each village – which are either restored or newly dug.