REPORT ON:

DISTRIBUTION OF WATER FOR DRY WEATHER AFFECTED AREAS IN THE COLOMBO DISTRICT 27TH 02ND MARCH 2014

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.

1.1 The above Graph show the average rainfall of the Colombo District 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 27C to a maximum of 36C where the community in the District affected with famine, hunger, thirst and diseases due to the lack of proper drinking water and nutrition. This years 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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