• New wells for Sri Lanka
Commissioners Kenneth and Jolene Hodder, national leaders of The Salvation Army in the USA, recently visited The Salvation Army Sri Lanka to celebrate the completion of the Safe Water and Livelihood Development project, a two-year effort to provide village wells in Polonnaruwa District.
Funded by The Salvation Army World Service Office, the goal of the project was to provide safe drinking water to this agricultural community by building new wells.
Many farmers in the area suffer from a deadly, chronic kidney disease of unknown origin. Contamination of surface water with agricultural chemicals is high on the list of suspected causes, along with not drinking enough water in a very hot climate.
A new well was to be provided for each of the six villages, but thanks to God’s provision and extra funding, a total of eight were built. An estimated 2742 families will directly benefit from the new water wells.
During their visit, the commissioners visited the Rajagiriya Child Development Centre, which provides a nurturing home for children whose parents are unable to care for them. They also met with Salvation Army Sri Lanka leadership and local government officials.
