Water for Aligambay: a story of twinning and hope

Between 2023 and 2025, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in New Zealand has worked closely with the National Council of Sri Lanka on an ambitious project to provide safe drinking water in the village of Thevakiramam, located in Aligambay, in the eastern part of the country. The initiative originated in 2022 from a twinning request aimed at meeting the basic needs of over 2,000 people in a region particularly affected by drought.

The project officially began in 2023 with the installation of storage tanks and a pipe network intended for both domestic consumption and agricultural irrigation. The initial goal was to ensure a reliable water supply for 228 families, a target that was successfully achieved. Then, between 2024 and 2025, the programme expanded to include an additional 58 families, benefiting a total of 329 households.

Thanks to the active involvement of the local community in building and installing the infrastructure, the water supply is now consistent throughout the year, ensuring the well-being of many families and strengthening their capacity to face the effects of climate change.

“A beautiful community achievement,” in the words of Arthur Schultze, New Zealand Twinning Coordinator. An experience that reflects the Vincentian spirit of serving with simplicity, providing people with the means to be the protagonists of their own transformation.