Sri Lanka’s water resilience strengthened by the Coca-Cola Foundation in Batticaloa

The Coca-Cola Foundation, through a grant to its implementing partner We Effect, has unveiled its latest project via the successful renovation of three vital reservoirs located in the Batticaloa District.

The inauguration ceremony of the three rehabilitated reservoirs, Thikkanai Kulam, Manikkam Kulam, and Thamarai Kulam was held recently, and graced by the presence of dignitaries from the local government and community members.

The transformative project, “Our Actions Our Future,” spanning over two years since its inauguration in 2021, centres on water replenishment, women empowerment, and waste management. Its primary aim is to ensure access to agrarian water supply for over 1,700 marginalised families in the Batticaloa region. Aligning with this central aim, the refurbishment resulted in a cumulative increase of 533,400 cubic metres in storage capacity across the three reservoirs, Thikkanai Kulam, Manikkam Kulam, and Thamarai Kulam.

Additionally, this project promotes women leadership through a cooperative approach, with notable results including strengthened farmers’ primary cooperatives for collective actions, increased access to agrarian water through three renovated water reservoirs, ensured access to a clean and safe drinking water facility for over 1,000 families, women entrepreneurship development with increased economic opportunities, and improved waste management practices in the selected communities.

Special Guest, Additional Government Agent - Batticaloa, Sutharsini Srikanth, commended the initiative and urged corporates to adopt similar visions and strategies. “Today, we mark a significant step towards a sustainable future, perfectly aligned with our nation’s vision for sustainable development. The Coca-Cola Foundation’s commitment to fortifying water resilience and local livelihoods through the renovation of these reservoirs mirrors our dedication to sustainable progress.”

In collaboration with partners ACTED and We Effect, the Coca-Cola Foundation has initiated impactful water stewardship projects in Sri Lanka. ACTED and The Coca-Cola Foundation worked together in October 2018 to restore the Samurdhi Tank in Galahitiya village, Monaragala District. This project improved irrigation access for approximately 400 households and 1,700 local farmers, opening up around 250 acres of farmland for year-round cultivation, particularly benefiting local women farmers. In the same year, We Effect, with a grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation, reconstructed and refurbished the Thammannawa and Elpathwewa Water Reservoirs in Anuradhapura. This effort not only increased water availability and quality but also empowered women in Thammannawa village.