Providing water solutions to rural schools in Sri Lanka

17/10/2015 – Monaragala, Sri Lanka: The Moneragala Branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society recently handed over a clean water system to the students of the Monarawana Junior School in Medagama division in the Monaragala District.

There are over 200 school children studying in this school with grades from year 1 to ordinary level.

Last year Red Cross Junior Circle members with other students held a shramadana campaign to renovate and clean the school drinking water well in school premises so that they could use it during the drought season. Monaragala districts falls under the dry zone of the country, experiencing drought conditions during most parts of the year.

At present the water pump and a stock tank is available at the school without proper water distribution system. The students made a request to the Red Cross to assist in providing the support in constructing a distribution system to which the SLRCS adhered to.

Accordingly the new water distribution system was vested in the students at a ceremony with the participation of the Assistant Planning Director in Bibie Zonal Education Office, Medagama Division Chairman Mr. Lokubanda, The Chairman of SLRCS Monaragala Branch Dr. Anura Ekanayake and the Branch Executive Officer Ms. K. H. Gnanamali.

During the ceremony first aid equipment was also donated to the school to establish a First Aid room within the school premises. The students from the Junior Red Cross Circle continues to hold first aid training classes to all students every week.