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| Saturday, 17 July 2004 |
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Red Cross Society hands over two more rehabilitated tanks in Hambantota The Huniyanwewa Tank in the Ambalantota Divisional Secretariat of the Hambantota District rehabilitated by the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS), will be handed over to villagers on July 17 at 4 p.m. under the patronage of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse. SLRCS President Jagath Abeysinghe and ITN Chairman Newton Gunaratne will also participate in the ceremonies of handing over this 18 acre tank benefiting 160 farming families. The tank will be renamed Amaradeva Wewa in honour of Pandit W. D. Amaradeva. SLRCS's mission is to promote the health and well-being of the vulnerable and to extend humanitarian assistance in times of natural disaster. In 2002, the SLRCS initiated a program in the drought stricken Hambantota district, which endeavours to afford some kind of permanent relief to the suffering people, by rehabilitating and reviving existing irrigation work, especially small tanks. Eight tanks have been completed in the SLRCS tank renovation project. The renovated tanks include Sooriyawewa, Katuwananayawewa, Sooriyapokunawewa and Swarnamalee Tank, Nonagama Tank, Bandagiriya Kudawewa Tank and Gal Piyasa Tank all in the Hambantota district. The program involves repairing and preparations of bunds, overflows, sluice-gates, spills and excavation. A noteworthy feature of SLRCS projects is that all work is undertaken by contractors residing in the Hambantota district and provides an opportunity for local villagers to be gainfully employed while also being able to resuscitate their own village tanks. The contractor is paid only after certificating by the Government District Irrigation Engineer that the work has been completed. The Kapukinissa Tank in the Sooriyawewa electorate, Hambantota district renovated by the SLRCS with financial support from the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) was handed over to villagers on July 16. Southern Development Authority Chairman Chandima Weerakkody, ITN Chairman Newton Gunaratne and Sri Lanka Red Cross Society President Jagath Abeysinghe were the chief guests. This 15 acre tank will benefit 200 farming families. The SLRCS has nationwide volunteers and a branch network in all 25 districts. Its humanitarian activities range from disaster management, emergency response and relief, promotion of humanitarian values, primary health care, HIV/AIDS prevention, first aid and volunteer blood donor campaigns. |
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