As a result of a grant from the British and Foreign School Society which matched funding provided by the Project’s student volunteers from Durham, we were enabled to construct three community centres in the inland Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka.

Ihalagalagama

Puwakgahawela

Pambahinna

This development was intended to address the significant divides that exist between poor coastal communities, most of which were decimated by the tsunami, and poverty stricken inland villages which are just as much in need of support and development. Many inland villages have no pre-school, no community meeting place, no central facilities, and have received none of the widespread international publicity that highlighted the plight of coastal regions.

Many inland rural communities have no access to information and communication technology and are characterised by unemployment and extremely low family incomes.

The first village to be ‘adopted’ in this inland development phase of the Project was Ihalagalagama, sited high above Belihul Oya and reached by a thirty to forty minute journey up a narrow, winding roadway that is unsurfaced a good deal of the way. Ihalagalagama has stunningly beautiful views over the surrounding hillsides, many of which are put to use as tea plantations.

Here, a brand new and much needed community building was opened in 2009. This structure incorporates a school and ample space for community functions, training events and meetings. It also contains new computing facilities, books and musical instruments available for community use.

In 2010 the second building in this region was completed, this being a large single storey multi-purpose construction at Puwakgahawela, a little way out of Belihul Oya. Once again this transformed the facilities of the village.

The location of the community building opened in 2011 is the village of Pambahina, very close to the main campus of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka at Belihuil Oya. As with all the others, this building is multi-functional and serves as a community space for activities with people of all ages.

Because of their proximity to Sabaragamuwa University, Ihalagalagama, Puwakgahawela and Pambahina are being developed as ‘university villages’. Staff from Sabaragamuwa make significant development contributions in these communities in collaboration with the charitable donations and volunteer support provided through Project Sri Lanka.