In the quiet hills of Gampola Western Division, 26-year-old Lakmal Bandara had built a life out of quiet determination. A freelance software developer, he spent his days coding, dreaming, and pooling every rupee he earned alongside his mother, Achala Iresha (48 years old), a seamstress. Together, they had poured their savings into a two-story home.
For fourteen-year-old Deshan Vimukthi, growing up in Nawagamuwa has meant learning to live with uncertainty. Whenever heavy rains hit the area, the nearby canal overflows, rapidly inundating the roads and leaving his family stranded inside their home. Yet for Deshan, flooding is only one part of the challenge. The deeper struggle lies within the walls
In Maduwa, Gampaha, a village surrounded by the river, rising water levels are a familiar reality for residents, particularly during the rainy season. But when Cyclone Ditwah struck, the flooding was unlike anything the community had experienced before. For Yasiru Nethruwan, a determined 16-year-old student with hopes for the future, among the most significant losses
In Sri Lanka, a country with frequent crises that compound risk factors, children and persons with disabilities were historically neglected when it came to disaster preparedness or response. While some progressive policy existed, the practice of disability inclusion was piecemeal and underfunded. So, recognizing this gap, UNICEF and the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, along
Nilmini Dissanayake, (44), and her husband Lal Sirimanna, (45), from Thanthirimale, have seen a remarkable transformation in their farming methods, leading to significant improvements in their livelihood. This significant change was made possible through the Managing Together Project, executed under the Ministry of Environment (MoE), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), guided technically by
From Struggle to Strength: Inoka’s Journey with CRIWMP For years, R.A. Inoka Kumari carried the weight of uncertainty. With no stable source of income, providing for her family was an uphill battle. “We struggled a lot just to survive,” her eyes cast downward and her breath heavy. When the Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project
For years, farmers in Sri Lanka’s Dry Zone faced the uncertainty of unpredictable rainfall and limited water supply. In Kurunegala, B.N. Samantha Wijekoon had experienced the frustration of past interventions that failed to deliver lasting benefits. “Before, most projects provided temporary solutions,” he recalls. “Even with financial support, they were unsustainable and offered no real
In the quiet village of Galgamuwa in the Kurunegala District, Nilantha, a dedicated farmer, once faced the reality of rural hardship. With just a small flock of chickens and limited income, his dream of growing a sustainable poultry business felt far out of reach. Every day was a struggle to provide for his family while
In the heart of Sri Lanka’s Kurunegala District, a remarkable transformation is unfolding both in the land and in the life of Dharmadasa, a determined commercial farmer. With support from the Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project (CRIWMP), funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Ministry of Irrigation,
Behind every act of kindness lies a story of courage, commitment, and quiet sacrifice. Mr. Pushpakanthan, a long-standing volunteer of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society – Matale Branch, embodies these values in every step of his humanitarian journey. For over two decades, he has served not for recognition, but out of a deep, unwavering
