WSSH project is 15 months project is funded by USAID. The WSSH Project was focus mainly in 4 DS Division in the Batticaloa district in the Eastern province in Sri Lanka. PALM CDSG Ltd from its inspection had identified a great need for uplifting and provision of drinking water, sanitation, hygiene facilities in those war-affected areas. Therefore, 15 months project intervention of WSSH project addressed the need in a harmonious and gender sensitized manner.

It is selected to 06 GN divisions of the 4 DSDs with around 4003households. Out of that, 1836families are not having sanitation facilities and 1294 families are not access to proper drinking water facilities. Through this project interventions 18% of them will receive drinking water facilities (240 families and avg; population 1440) 18% of them will receive the sanitation facilities. (Families 324 and avg; population 1944) in addition to 60% of households being educated with systematic hygienic practices including all schools in the six GN divisions. Relevant sector partners will also be influenced with this intervention in resource mobilization and reactivation of existing sector policies.

Capacities of RDS in the GN divisions will be developed in order to achieve the project goals & objectives in a high level of community participation. RDS will act as a ground level partner of the interventions.

Formulation of integrated GN divisional development plans, Baseline surveys and feasibility studies are the major initial tasks of all partners with the Professional expertise of PALM CDSG Ltd. “GAMANA” network will provide technical inputs for the drinking water and sanitation projects whereas PIEDS will act as the technical consultants of all relevant constructions.

Education programs for the behavioral and attitudinal changes of high degree hygienic practices will jointly be design and implemented with relevant governmental authorities and sector specialists.

WSSH project was done to sharing of its cost among the beneficiaries and sector specialists, partners and implementing agencies as well. The total cost of the project is US$ 661875.00.25% of the total cost wills share among PALM, RDS, SA’s, & NSAs. That is US$ 162618.00 unskilled labor, available materials in each GN division and community participation in training workshops and meetings was done each RDS. Relevant materials inputs are expecting from SAs & NSAs in 4 DSDs. Expected funds from USAID are US$ 499257.00.

Gender had been identified in to all WSSH project interventions as a cross cutting theme. As a result, the project will provide space for female and male participation, voices and decision making in the each stagers of the project circle.

The RDS in each GN division, which has obtained the legality, will appoint community development assistants who will be well trained the legality, will appoint community development assistants who will be well trained within the process to carry on the good work of WSSH, which will provide sustainability post project interventions with RDO’s of divisions.

Sri Lanka had experienced a civil war for a period of over 30 years that disturbed lives of community members especially in the Northern and Eastern part of the country. The Baticaloa district in the central part of the conflict affected Eastern province consists of an area of 2633.1sq. kms. The district consists of 14 Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSDs) with a total of 965 villages. The total population in the district as per the 2007 government census stands at 581,223.

Although the civil war is no more there and communities had been resettled in their original localities, yet community members in war- effected villages face many socio- economic and cultural issues. Livelihoods and basic infrastructure facilities including housing, water and sanitation are the main issues. The main sources of income in the area include the agriculture, fisheries, brick making, livestock, high & crop cultivation, and unskilled labor work. The government so far had not been able to address able to address these issues of the community. Especially, the governmental service provision bodies are not strengthened enough to develop or co-ordinate any linkages with the villagers. The 13^th amendment to the  constitution of Sri Lanka; Provincial Councils (PCs), were established and the functions in relation to the services including energy, water, health, education, local governance, etc., were delegated to PCs. However, the central government still wields power on these delegated areas. Negative influence on post-war situation is still affecting the decision making power of the decentralized government mechanisms.

The project was to be implemented in 6 GN divisions of 4 DSDs in the district of Baticaloa namly Kalawanchiudi, Arampathy, Pattipola, Chengaladi. The intervension is aim to implement a participatory development program with various factors including the communities, GOs, NGOs, and CBOs in order to address water, sanitation and hygiene issues of most needy and vulnerable people in the area.