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Seneviratne Watte, a settlement with over 250 families seeks NGO aid

by J. Gunadasa Jayawickrema, Galewela group correspondent

'Seneviratne Watte', a former private farm of about 100 acres on the bank of Dambulu Oya, presently a new settlement with 256 families has invited 'The Foundation for Human Development', a local NGO seeking redress to their grievances. The area has got the name 'IBBAN KATUVA' (Tortoise shell) as it is a dry and barren landmass.

Thanks to the construction of Dambulu Oya reservoir below the settlement, the climate in the area has improved; but this large irrigation scheme to the people was of no use as its water could not be diverted to the farms above.

The NGO initially gave training to a group of girls and mothers on the line of nutrition of the children and pregnant mothers, home gardening and preservation of the environment. A series of workshops were held to enlighten the members of the community. Nurseries have been set-up to provide the planting materials to the people to engage in home gardening.

A Pre school was opened and it has been coupled with the nutrition programme. Thrift and savings habits have been encouraged.

Since fast developing Dambulla, the economic hub of the area is located only about two kilo metres away, the people in this new settlement have the potential to develop it into a model village.

D. M. Lasantha Gunarathne, President of the Foundation for Human Development, Philippa Daley, field director of 'Shining life' a children's trust based in UK and several NGO representatives visited the village as special invitees at a cultural festival. It was presented by the women and children under a mango tree. Later they were taken round the cluster of farms, pre-school nurseries and herbal gardens.

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