REPORT ON:

DISTRIBUTION OF WATER FOR DRY WEATHER AFFECTED

AREAS IN THE COLOMBO DISTRICT

27TH – 02ND MARCH 2014

1.1 The above Graph show the average rainfall of the Colombo District

SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

Sri Lanka is an island located in close proximity of the equator and is prone to warm

weather conditions which are hot and humid lasting from December to March that

involve annual occurrences of dry weather in the country. As the seasonal monsoon

rains did not take place last year, the countries natural water sources were depleted

that wells and reservoir are almost empty in areas of Kaduwela, Awissawella,

Homagama and Kesbewa.

Dry weather conditions in the Colombo District have been recorded during the period

of January to March and August to September as the temperature varies from an

average of 27ºC to a maximum of 36ºC where the community in the District affected

with famine, hunger, thirst and diseases due to the lack of proper drinking water and

nutrition. This year’s adverse weather conditions prevailed due the failure of

monsoon rains thus resulting in a heavy depletion of drinking water affecting the

community.

1.2 The above Graph show the average temperature of the Colombo District

WHAT WE DID

According to the assessment conducted by the Branch Disaster Response Team (BDRT)

of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) Colombo, the branch identified that the dry

weather conditions had affected most of the units in the Colombo District where with

the approval of the Governance and the upper management the Branch implemented

a distribution of 16,000 litres of water to over 2000 households in the areas of

Ambalangoda, Rilawala, Siyambalagoda, Magammana, Kahathuduwa, Heraliyawala

and Pahalagama twice a day for 7 days. (8000 litres per trip)

METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION

The Branch with the valuable assistance of the National Head Quarters (NHQ)

contacted the Sri Lanka Water Board in the Colombo District as it was the only and

main source of receiving proper drinking water to be distributed to the community.

The main methods of distribution were house to house and having a temporary

collection point in each of these Grama Niladari Divisions. The water was then

transported from a lorry (assisted by NHQ) and a bowser as we had to cover a vast

area.

OBJECTIVE AND EXPECTED OUTPUT

To successfully distribute safe drinking water for the 2000 households affected by the

dry weather conditions in the Colombo district thus reducing the risk of Non

Communicable Diseases (NCD), thirst and hunger

PICTURES REALTED TO THE PROGRAMME

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