by Melani Manel Perera

By March, drought is expected to strike the island nation. This led Arbeitskreis Sri Lanka eV Muenster to work with the Sisters of the Holy Family to help the village of Mullagasyaya, home to 85 families.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - A German Christian association has provided a Buddhist village in Embilipitiya District (southern Lanka) with 20 tanks to store water because of a drought expected to strike in March. This, some local women told AsiaNews, is "priceless". It will "allow us to survive."

The village is called Mullagasyaya and is home to about 85 Buddhist families, who survive by growing rice, vegetables and grain. Every year, however, when the dry season arrives, water is a problem.

The German association undertook its initiative in cooperation with the Sisters of the Holy Family, who have been helping the villagers for some years. In 2009, the nuns were instrumental in setting up Diriya Kaantha Ekathuwa, a local women's collective.

Recently Arbeitskreis Sri Lanka eV Muenster president Lutz Loeher visited the village. When he became aware of the water problem, he decided to help the residents.

 

• sri
• lanka
• water
• drought
• german
• association
• embilipitiya
• district
• mullagasyaya