Officials promise relief to dried up village
The Divisional Secretariat area of Nawagaththegama with 19 Grama Niladhari areas has suffered from the drought that has lingered over the past three years. According to the Divisional Secretary Dilan Guneratne, small tanks have dried up, and only five remain with little water for cultivation.
Farmers in the area complain that they have not been able to grow crops for five seasons because there is no water. Around 6,295 families have been badly affected so far, involving some 18,296 peopple. WH M Dharmadasa, a farmer from Moragahawewa, Nawagaththegama, said: “We have not cultivated for five seasons. We feel that killing the Galgamuwa tusker has left us cursed.’’
He fears death if people do not receive relief.
H L A Ranjith Kumara of Nawagaththegama says only the palm trees survive and everything else has dried up. “We have nothing left to eat. No officials come to look into our plight. No official knows that there is a problem here including the political authority. We do not even have casual employment in this area.’’
D M Ranasinghe says that elephants eat the few green shoots that exist.
“The drought is so severe that 200 tanks have dried up. There are no wells with water. We have to pay for drinking water. We travel miles for bathing,’’ he complains.
“We were active people before and are now idling until we can get back to farming. Children don't go to school. Wild shrubs are encroaching the cultivable plots. If the plots are to be reactivated it will have to be done by machinery. ‘’
The Divisional Secretary of Nawagaththegama, Dilan Guneratne, admits that Nawagaththegama is the worst hit area in the Puttalam District. “What the people say is true. They suffer enough. They have brought matters to the notice of the District Secretary. We understand that relief will follow.’’