Brandix completes 460 more water supply projects

The struggle to find water has ended for 460 families and some of the neighbours who shared their plight, thanks to the continuing efforts of Brandix under its 'Mehewarata Diyawara' (Care For Our Own) water supply programme.

People in 18 districts benefited from this community initiative in 2012-13, as Sri Lanka's single largest apparel exporter constructed and donated 293 wells, 115 pipe-borne water systems, 35 tube wells, 11 rainwater harvesting systems, five community wells and a community water supply scheme during the financial year.

While the primary beneficiary of each project is an employee with an identified need, in most cases the water supply system provided is shared with several families similarly affected in villages across the country.

The Gampaha District with 105 projects, topped the beneficiary districts, followed by Kegalle with 76, Ratnapura with 62, Kurunegala with 49 and Polonnaruwa with 33, the company said.

In one of the larger projects undertaken during the year, Brandix funded the completion of a water supply scheme for 30 families in the village of Pathumgama, Bulathkohupitiya, supporting an initiative launched by Prabath Dassanayake of Brandix Finishing, Avissawella, with several youths of the village. "The hardship that many people, including some of our associates, still face in their daily lives due to inadequate water supply is appalling," said Anusha Alles, Head of CSR at the Brandix Group.

With the projects completed in 2012-13, a total of 2,024 associates of Brandix employed at manufacturing facilities across Sri Lanka, had received water supply infrastructure under the programme.

In addition to these projects, Brandix has partnered with several corporate entities to build large community water supply projects for areas or institutions that are faced with serious water shortages. In a separate, but cause-linked initiative titled 'Jalavahini,' the Group is conducting a series of interactive training programmes across the country to empower women community leaders involved in water resources management in rural Sri Lanka.