Appe Lanka Foundation has successfully completed the restoration of the historic Naranthalu village tank in Poonakary, marking a major milestone in its flagship initiative, “Let Them Bloom, Give Them Water.” The project restores not only a vital water source, but also hope, dignity, and long-term opportunity for a community emerging from decades of hardship.
Appe Lanka has been working continuously in Poonakary since 2018, building deep-rooted relationships with communities, schools, and local leaders. It is a home-grown, home-financed Sri Lankan organisation, driven by the belief that sustainable change is most powerful when it is locally led, community-owned, and built to last.
For centuries, village tanks have been the lifeblood of Sri Lanka’s rural communities—sustaining agriculture, replenishing groundwater, and anchoring village life. In Poonakary, years of conflict, neglect, and climate stress had left many such reservoirs silted and unusable, forcing families into seasonal unemployment, food insecurity, and migration in search of daily wage labour.
The restored Naranthalu tank is expected to replenish agricultural lands across the surrounding villages, benefiting a large number of farming families who depend on seasonal cultivation. With water now retained and available for longer periods, peanut cultivation in the area has already expanded from two cultivation seasons a year to as many as four, significantly improving productivity, income stability, and food security for households that were previously dependent on seasonal work. This ensures year-round livelihoods, particularly empowering women with consistent income and strengthening household food security.
Commenting on the restoration, Shaan Corea, Founder of Appe Lanka, said, “This tank is more than a water source. It is the backbone of livelihoods, dignity, and stability for this community. Restoring Naranthalu was about giving people the ability to work their land, feed their families, and plan for the future with confidence. When water is restored, everything else follows.”
As part of the project’s holistic and future-focused approach, local schools are active partners in the initiative. Students are planning to plant indigenous trees along the tank bund, fostering long-term environmental sustainability while learning about water conservation and ecosystem restoration. Schools will also cultivate their own vegetable gardens, helping supplement school meals and equipping children with practical knowledge about nutrition, agriculture, and self-reliance.
A local farmer from the community shared, “Earlier, we could only cultivate for two seasons and had to look for work outside the village the rest of the year. Now, with water available for longer, we are able to cultivate more seasons and stay on our land. It has changed how we think about our future.”
Commenting on the restoration of the Naranthalu tank, Engineer Nahil Wijesuriya said, “When I saw the people smiling at the tank opening and when I received the gift of freshly harvested peanuts, I realized the restoration of dry zone tanks is the future of community development, where people are able to be employed throughout the year. I supported Appe Lanka because of its long-term approach to hosting sustainable community development.”
The Naranthalu tank restoration exemplifies Appe Lanka’s core belief that water is the foundation upon which education, livelihoods, health, and dignity are built. Through the “Let Them Bloom, Give Them Water” initiative, Appe Lanka has already provided safe drinking water to multiple schools and multiple GN divisions in Poonakary, directly improving the lives of thousands of children and families.
This milestone coincides with a significant recognition for Appe Lanka Founder and Chairman, Shaan Corea, who was recently honoured with a Water Champion Award, given by the UAE and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), recognising her leadership and long-standing commitment to expanding equitable access to water for underserved communities.
About Appe Lanka Foundation
Founded in Sri Lanka, Appe Lanka Foundation is a home-grown, locally financed nonprofit organisation working since 2018 to empower underserved communities—particularly in Poonakary—through access to safe water, education, sustainable livelihoods, and peacebuilding initiatives. Its work is community-led, impact-driven, and focused on long-term resilience.
