Coca-Cola Foundation funds water replenishment initiative in Batticaloa

The Coca-Cola Foundation has stepped up efforts to fund the ‘We Effect Sri Lanka’ and Trincomalee District Youth Development (AHAM) to support the ‘Our Actions - Our Future’ initiative.

The effort is a holistic development project on water replenishment, women empowerment, and waste management. 

This project was launched at Paavakkodichchenai, Vakarai, Batticaloa, on the 22 March; World Water Day 2022. 
This latest project aims to empower farmers in the Kayankeny, Panichchenkeny, and Kathirvely Grama Niladhari (GN) Divisions in Koralaipattu North (Vakarai) Division in the Batticaloa District. 

During the event, the ground-breaking ceremony of the project to rehabilitate the water reservoirs of Thikkanaikulam, Maanikamkulam and Panichankernykulam took place with the participation of Government officials and representatives of Coca-Cola, and We Effect.  

On successful completion, the project will benefit 1,772 marginalized families, strengthen farmers’ primary cooperatives for collective actions, increase access to agrarian water through the three renovated water reservoirs, ensure access to clean and safe drinking water facilities for 1,000 families, boost women entrepreneurship development with increased economic opportunities, and improve waste management practices in the selected three communities. 

This is the second water initiative project with We Effect Sri Lanka funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation.  The previous project was conducted in 2019 and efforts were rolled out to renovate the ancient 100-year-old Thammannawa and Elpathwewa Water Reservoirs.The aim was to double the agricultural output, greater income, and safe, clean water for marginalized communities in a rural village of Thammannawa, Gebbittikollawa DS division in Anuradhapura. This initiative was granted a ‘Best Sustainability Project’ accolade at the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2020 organized by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. 
The Coca-Cola Foundation is the global philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company.