How Lives and Property Were Saved Because of Hadabima
Special projects operated by the Hadabima Authority, which functions under the Ministry of Agriculture, are being implemented in various areas throughout Sri Lanka. Under this, special infrastructure facilities are provided with the aim of elevating people’s lives to a higher level, and projects are selected based on the needs of the area and implemented.
One special project carried out by this institution is the construction of a water supply system built in the Tilton Janapadaya belonging to the Pasbaghe Korale Pradeshiya Sabha in the Nawalapitiya area. It is the opinion of the people there that through the construction of this water supply system, the lives and property of the people in that area were protected from the cyclone Ditwah. Also, the people expressed their views that they were able to meet their needs as there was no water shortage after the cyclone.
“I am a member of the Tilton Janapadaya. At the beginning of this program, we gathered for a meeting, everyone in the village came together and started doing this. At the very beginning, a proposal was made to conduct a community finance program in the village. There I said that we have a water spout, please renovate it. About 400 families use this. It wasn’t like this before. It was in a very dilapidated condition. Therefore, after considering our proposal, officials from the Hadabima Authority came, inspected, and renovated the water spout like this for us, so today many families use this. When we faced disaster, it was protected like this due to the renovation. We are grateful to all the officers of the Hadabima Authority.”
“First, we are grateful to all the officers including the Chairman of the Hadabima Authority. The Department of Agriculture is an institution under our Minister Lalkantha. That institution selected the Pallegama Tilton upper water source for conservation. I think it’s a water spout that has been in a very dilapidated condition for quite a long time. In accordance with government policies, we added a bit more to the recommendations presented by a technical officer. We properly utilized the money that was given. Those who did the construction only took their labor. We built this water spout to government standards. This water source never dries up. Although it was said that 400 families are protected by this, people from other places come here to bathe. They also take drinking water from here. This has become a great asset to the people of the village. It also withstood the disaster. May the Hadabima Authority and the Department of Agriculture receive more and more strength and courage to carry out such work in the future.”
At this event, the Assistant Director (Agriculture) (Acting) of the Sri Lanka Hadabima Authority, Mr. Sunil Wickremage, also expressed several special views.
“The Hadabima Authority operates by dividing administrative activities into district zones. Accordingly, our zone belongs to the Kandy 01 zone comprising Pasbaghe Korale, Gangawela, Uda Palatha, and Doluwa. Accordingly, we have come to the Pallegama Grama Niladhari division of Pasbaghe Korale. When the Hadabima Authority’s development program was started in this Grama Niladhari division in 2025, at the beginning of the year, the entire community was brought together and a basic rural development planning program was implemented. We take rural proposals regarding development programs that need to be implemented by our institution. Among the proposals, we received 18 proposals. Various proposals came including soil conservation, water source conservation, crop cultivation, animal husbandry, technical training, floriculture, and entrepreneurship development. There, we prioritize each program. In the water source conservation proposals, we received proposals for about 8 water sources. When we prioritized them, the Tilton water spout was at the top. We considered all factors such as the water capacity, the number of families using it, the potential, long-term sustainability, etc. as criteria. We conducted a field inspection together with the Divisional Secretary’s Office, land officers, and other officers regarding this. There we received the recommendation that conservation work of this water source is very appropriate. Accordingly, we joined with the Pasbaghe Korale Pradeshiya Sabha and the Hadabima Authority of Sri Lanka allocated a financial provision of Rs. 1.3 million for its construction. “Accordingly, a request was made to the villagers of this village to prepare the necessary plans to develop this water source in the way you need, using a methodology you propose. Accordingly, after involving the technical officer of the Pradeshiya Sabha, gathering the community-based organizations in the village, and presenting the project plan to us according to their ideas, the Hadabima Authority provided financial provisions to the Pradeshiya Sabha. Accordingly, this work was carried out. The Hadabima Authority conserved 52 water sources during this year. Also, we expect to develop 42 during this year. Rs. 2 million has been allocated for another water source in Pasbaghe Korale. This is a victory we have achieved.
If your area also needs such projects, please contact the Hadabima Authority, its current chairman R.D. Siripala informed the gathering.
