Batticaloa district has been divided into 14 DSDs and 345 GNDs. 24 GNDs are situated in the Manmunai West – Vavunatheevu DSD. Moreover, 75% of the people who were affected by the civil war and they have been living permanently since 2005 in their land. People who live here are often affected by natural hazards such as droughts every year.

“When the well is dry we know the worth of water”- Benjamin Franklin

Drought is one of the major hazards related to water in the world. Every year, many people die and economical losses occur over most of the countries in the world due to droughts. The Batticaloa District has experienced a severe drought in the last few months. As a result, tanks, lakes,ponds, and streams were drying up leading to an acute shortage of drinking water in the area.

 Mr. Amirthalingam, who has been living in Narippulthoaddam GND, Manmunai West DSD since birth. He is a member of the Pradeshiya Sabha of Manmunai West – Vavunatheevu. Narippulthoaddam GND is mostly affected by droughts. “The public open well in our village have totoally filled my water needs for 15 to 20 years. It is located 1 km away. For many years, we have gone to the open public well collect water for drinking at 2 am, because everone in the village, competed to collect the drinking water from this well. Sometimes, due to the dry season watercolor is changed to yellow color as well as the water taste also changed.” (Source: Mr. Amirthalingam)

In this village, people were most affected by droughts. For 15 years, before obtaining the WB water, a village people used water from the Pradeshiya Sabah Bowser water facility during the dry season. But the water also not treated as they were taken from the Navatkaadu place (small lagoon) and supplied to Narippulthooddam village. “When we used open public well water, every day atleast one person was affected by stomach pain and admitted to hospital” (Source: Mr. Amirthalingam). As per his statement, the people who used water from open well that was not treated and saline. Due to this people are affected by health issues such as vomiting, kidney diseases, allergies and other water infection diseases. At this situation, the PALM Foundation came forward to assist the village to get WB pipeline water connections. The WB, which purifies water from the Unnichai tank, also, supplies it to the Batticaloa district. “The Unnichai tank, which is an irrigation tank, it is situated about 12 km away from the Batticaloa lagoon was constructed by constructing an embankment across the Mahilavedduvaan river and is located in the Unnichai village in Manmunai west DSD in the Batticaloa district. The water holding capacity of the tank is 41,500-acrefeet.” (Source: https://www.pgia.ac.lk/files/Annual_congress/journal/v20/33Thayananth.pdf)

“We are using the WB water obtained 1 year ago. But the issue, we are currently facing is droughts in the Batticaloa district. Because Unnichai tank, due to drought dries up. Therefore, we are obtaining less water, but it does not influence our daily routines. However, we are saving the (water bottles and water tanks) for limited purposes. Pradeshiya Sabah is doing awareness of the village people to limit the water use during the drought season” (Source: Mr. Amirthalingam) “The main source of water supply for the Batticaloa district, Unnichchai tank’s water level has decreased at an alarming rate. In recent years, the reservoir water level was up to 33 feet and stored up to 500 acre-feet of water.” (Source: https://www.newsfirst.lk/2019/06/19/batticaloa-more-than-desperate-for-drinking-water/. 19 Jun, 2019 | 9:12 PM). “WB has decided to provide drinking water for the district for only 10 hours per day because of limited water in the tank.” (Source: Waterboard OIC of Batticaloa district). Since it’s a short term requirement , people are considering Water Board instruction to reduce the water use during the drought season. The Regional Manager of NWS&DB announced that there is very limited water available in the Unnichai tank where the Water Board filters and distribute drinking water to the Batticaloa district. Accordingly, the signed MOU between NWS&DB and Department of Irrigation that 40,000 Acres Feet water is allocated for the Department of Irrigation and 15000 acre-feet are allocated for the Water Board. From January to July 2019 WB used 8000 acre-feet of water for the drinking purposes of the district. Therefore, it is important to improve understanding among policy-makers and decision-makers of the importance of drought risk management (for example provide the awareness from village level to the city at Batticaloa district). The GNVDMC committee members who were formed during the DRR project with the training received from DMC unit in Batticaloe District, have guided the village people regarding drought management technical tools . Water Board facilitated via telecast news, press conferences, flyers, social media news, and short message services for awakening news to beneficiaries regarding during the drought season how to manage WB water. The WB water facilities are permanent as well as sustainable for the long term. Therefore, during the dry and wet season, more benefits when compared to the previous situation of temporary resources of water. Therefore, the villages are grateful for USAID, PALM Foundation as well as LRWHF.

Mawadimunmaari village is located at under Manmunai South West DS Division which is one of mostly affected villages by flood in Batticloa District. The village community is  mainly engage in paddy cultivation and labour works. There are 32 women headed families. There are 212 families and population is 648. Their daily life get severely affected during the flood season as floods remains several weeks so the village families use to stay in schools and their relatives places till flood drains. Children’s education and families’ means of life harshly affected due to the flooding. It takes more time to return to normal life after the floods since the households looks dirty and muddy. Family members have to spend many days to clean their houses and premises. There is a canal both side of Santhaamalai – Ampalanthurai main road. Around 9 villages used to travel through this main road. During the rainy season unable to travel through this way because of the canal damaged. The village people were met more accident and travelling problem during flood time. During the rainy season they couldn’t travel to hospital, school, work place and government office.