Samarakoon Watta
Samarakoon Watta is approximately 10 km
south of Sri Lanka’s capital city, Colombo. It is
a 9 acre, low lying, waterlogged site, on the
edge of Bolgoda Lake. Since 1974, more and
more landless families have been living on the
largely uncultivated and semi-abandoned site.
There are approximately 213 houses, 77% of
which are unauthorised. The quality of the
houses varies from sturdy semi-permanent
construction to those which are poorly
constructed and have leaking roofs and mud or
sawdust floors. The community suffers from
several acute problems. Surveys have shown
exceptionally high malnutrition rates amongst
all children (36% of children under 5 are
malnourished), the school drop out rate is far
higher than the national average and the local
environment poses omnipresent health risks to
children and families alike (with uncovered
and untreated drains that flood regularly, as
well as the build up of refuse). Access to credit
is poor, meaning that families tend to be
trapped in a poverty cycle, and politicians have
given little regard for a community whose
dwellings are not legally recognised.
Shining Life Children’s Trust (SLCT) has formed a 3-year partnership with a local non-governmental organisation,
The Human Development Foundation (HDF). HDF implements development programmes with an emphasis on
child focussed activities. SLCT’s role is to provide funds, technical assistance and management advice for the
Samarakoon Watta project, and to monitor progress made.
The goal of the project is to enhance the capabilities of children, mothers and caregivers in Samarakoon Watta,
through education, credit and improving links with the wider community. Selected community members are trained
so that they can also train other members of the community and, wherever possible, aspects of the project are
planned and orchestrated by the community. All aspects of the project are designed with a long-term view towards
sustainability, including establishing a community savings and credit programme. The project is managed by a
locally trained officer who works in the community, and a community assistant, who lives in the community.
Activities that have taken place in Samarakoon Watta within the sphere of this project include: Establishment
of a community pre-school (along with training of willing community members as pre-school teachers),
establishment of mothers' societies and children's clubs, health training, early childhood care and development
training, micro-credit and the construction of a community building.
