Archives

Just two miles off from the Danowita Junction on the Colombo-Kandy highway, is situated the village called Bothale, full of greenery, fresh air and pleasant atmosphere. From this road branches off a much narrower road, leading to the top of Vana Mee Kanda (also known as Andagala Kanda), where our age old neglected village sees a new horizon. The winding narrow road leading to the top of the hill reminds us of giri durga and vana durga, referred to in our ancient literature.

Colombo city is 65 km away from this hill-top, but Mirigama town is within five miles. It's situated on the top of a hill and may be the main attraction, which provides such a pleasant, calm and refreshing atmosphere. Scattered here and there are some temporary shanty type dwelling places erected on rare spots of levelled land on the rocky ground. Among them, a better cottage owned by a more fortunate villager may be noticed as an exception. It is all surrounded by thick jungle on rocky land which does not very much encourage any cultivation.

About 15 months back, Sri Lanka-China Society decided to visit this hill-top village, on the recommendation of Sarvodaya, for a one-day-social-service-programme. The short meeting was held under a mango tree, because there was no place suitable for a meeting in the village. Mainly due to the physical conditions of the hill-top and the prevailing age old social condition, this village has been cut off from the rest of the Society. Land belongs to the state. Wherever a housing site is possible, a temporary, hut has come up to house 46 families in the village.

The children have no school in the village and there is no place of worship. Seldom we meet a man or a woman with some employment. Children of school going age become a part of the jungle except 40 students who attend school in distant areas at the bottom of the hill. It is certainly an up-hill task to go down and come up daily. The number of lavatories in the village are less than a dozen. One has to go down on the rocky foot-path to get water for drinking. In short, we saw a good example of a neglected, poverty stricken rather unsophisticated village on this hill-top.

A devoted and courageous group of young fellow had the only social voluntary organization in the village called "Dilena Tharu Sarvodaya Sharamadana Sangamaya." It is rather unfortunate that they were unable to contribute much in spite of their dedication. It is through this voluntary organization that Sri Lanka-China Society decided to launch a project to develop the conditions of the life of this group of villagers. Under the prevailing circumstances we observed that a pre-school for the small children might open the door for the improvement of education. The 40 children, who face the daily up-hill-task of going to school down below the hill-top deserve some financial assistance. The parents hardly can offer all daily expenses.

At least the most deserving, bottom line villagers should be given a helping had to construct permanent houses. With these goals in mind Sri Lanka-China Society embarked on a social development projet.

The project prepared by Sri Lanka-China Society would require a capital of over Rs. 2,000,000 which was far beyond our capacity. It was at this juncture that we were fortunate to come across a Belgium NGO called Adoptie Sri Lanka. Some representatives visited Vana Mee Kanda with us on our request. Then and there they agreed to find the Project. We noticed that this decision was more due to their keen interest than due to our request.

The first project was to construct a new building for a pre-school for all small children in Vana Mee Kanda. It included all basic equipment and a fully equipped play ground. Jungle was cleared by the village youth for this purpose and a beautiful building came up on the top of the hill. By the beginning of the year 2002 the pre-school was ready for 30 children who get a glass of milk and a square meal every day. Inside this building a reading room and a small library is arranged for the benefit of the adults. Daily newspapers are supplied for the reading room.

Those who attend school have to trudge down hill to go to Madabavita, Danovita, Bothale and Mirigama. Their basic requirements, such as, school bags, shoes, water bottles, umbrellas and all stationery items were supplied and a monthly cash payment of Rs. 300-400 is being paid to every one of them. The good news of these Projects attracted the attention of three businessmen in Colombo, who assisted 10 selected families to construct permanent houses.

Supply of drinking water had been quite a problem particularly due to the terrain of the land. A sum of Rs. 75,000 was spent to provide pipe borne water to 30 families in the village. The newly constructed pre-school also has pipe borne water supply as a result. Any community must work, play and pray together. This village has no temple or any such place. A bo-sapling from the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura was brought and planted near the pre-school. Since then the villagers daily meet there every evening for religious activities.

This is the story of a picturesque hamlet emerging from the jungle. All these Projects will be officially declared open tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. on the hill top of Vana Mee Kanda. The donors of the ten houses and the main donor Adoptie Sri Lanka of Belgium will be among the main guests to the village along with Sri Lanka-China Society representatives. - Amaradasa Gunawardana, President, Sri Lanka-China Society.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager