Renaissance Sri Lanka (RSL) is a nonprofit organization committed to driving ethical, community-centered development in harmony with Sri Lanka’s rich cultural identity.

At the heart of RSL’s recent work are three pillars that define its impact: ensuring access to safe, reliable water, empowering women as economic and community leaders, and advancing sustainable agriculture through projects like agro-well initiatives.

Water Projects: Transforming Lives, One Drop at a Time

The Reality of Water Access in Sri Lanka

While Sri Lanka has made strides in expanding water services, there’s a stark inequality between urban centers and rural/estate sectors. According to the World Bank (2023), only 43% of residents in estate sectors—such as Badulla and Nuwara Eliya—have access to safe water and adequate sanitation.
For comparison, urban areas enjoy over 90% coverage (World Bank blog, 2023).

The Gendered Burden

In most rural Sri Lankan communities, women and girls are the primary water collectors. The UN reports that in some villages, women spend up to 2–3 hours daily fetching water—time that could otherwise go toward education, income-earning activities, or rest (UNICEF Sri Lanka, 2022).
This daily trek often means carrying 20–30 liters of water over long distances, risking injury and limiting opportunities.

A Case Study in Change

The Wanaraniya Water Project offers a powerful example. In a small Sri Lankan village, women led an initiative to pipe water from a source 6.5 km away into homes. The result?

• Time spent on water collection dropped dramatically.
• Women gained new leadership roles in the village.
• Household hygiene and health improved.

As Oxfam’s case study notes, women who once spent hours fetching water now participate in community planning and income-generating projects (Oxfam Policy & Practice).

RSL’s 2025 Water Project in Madukkarai Village of Mannar District

In Madukkarai, where 225 families struggle with recurring water shortages, our project directly addresses access to clean water by introducing sustainable water management solutions. Through the installation of a community well, we ensure that families have a reliable year-round supply of safe drinking water. This water will be used to cultivate fruits and vegetables in the family gardens. By improving water accessibility for households, the project not only tackles immediate health and sanitation needs but also strengthens the community’s resilience for food insecurity.

 

Here, the construction of a community water tank becomes a lifeline. This transformative project not only ensures access to reliable water but also supports farming resilience and improved household well-being. By securing water, it empowers families to move closer to sustainability and a better quality of life.

 

Women’s Empowerment: Building Economic and Social Resilience

RSL’s Badulla District Dry Food Project for 60 women

Badulla District is one of Sri Lanka’s poorest regions, with many families earning below 5,000 LKR/month (approx. USD 17).
RSL’s flagship women’s empowerment initiative directly supported 60 women from low-income households and aims to benefit 350 women indirectly over five years. The project provided:

• Skills training in dry food production.
• Support to form women-led cooperatives.
• Access to market linkages for sustainable income.

The Broader Impact of Empowering Women

Global data underscores why women’s empowerment is transformative:

• Women reinvest 90% of their income into their families and communities, compared to 30–40% for men (UN Women, 2020).
• Closing gender gaps in the labor force could boost Sri Lanka’s GDP by up to 14% (World Bank Gender Assessment, 2021).

In RSL’s model, women not only gain financial independence but also a platform for leadership—shaping community decisions, managing resources, and advocating for their needs.

Sustainable Agriculture: From Survival to Stability

The Challenge of Farming in Rural Sri Lanka

Agriculture remains the backbone of rural Sri Lankan livelihoods, but many families still struggle with water scarcity, unpredictable weather, and limited access to modern farming techniques. In districts like Mannar and Badulla, farmers often rely on rain-fed systems that leave them vulnerable to crop failures and food insecurity. Without reliable water for farming, families remain trapped in cycles of subsistence rather than progress.

Agro-Wells as Catalysts for Change

To break this cycle, RSL promotes the construction of agro-wells—community-based solutions that secure water for farming while easing the burden of daily survival. These wells ensure year-round irrigation, enabling families to cultivate fruits, vegetables, and cash crops beyond the rainy season. According to FAO studies, access to reliable irrigation can increase smallholder farmers’ incomes by up to 70% and reduce household food insecurity (FAO, 2022).

A Case in Pusarikulam Village

In Pusarikulam, the introduction of agro-wells is not just about growing food—it’s about transforming futures. By securing water for farming, families can move from fragile subsistence farming to more stable, market-oriented production. Women play a central role here too, taking leadership in managing water resources and using new income streams to invest in their households and communities. What begins as a water solution becomes a catalyst for economic resilience, dignity, and generational change.

The Bigger Picture

Sustainable agriculture, supported by water access, strengthens entire rural economies. Families gain food security, children benefit from healthier diets, and communities reduce their dependency on aid. By turning farming into a reliable livelihood, RSL helps families build pathways out of poverty and prepares communities to withstand the growing pressures of climate change.

Why These Pillars Are Interconnected

Water access and women’s empowerment are not separate tracks—they’re mutually reinforcing:

• Water as a Gateway to Empowerment: When women no longer spend hours fetching water, they can participate in training, start businesses, and take leadership roles.
• Women as Water Stewards: Empowered women often lead community water committees, ensuring fair distribution, maintenance, and sustainable use.
  A Solidaridad Network project in rural Sri Lanka demonstrated that women-led water societies improved access for over 1,000 households, reduced disputes, and increased community participation (Solidaridad, 2019).

The Ripple Effect of These Investments

When RSL invests in water projects and women’s empowerment, the benefits cascade across multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as defined by the UN:

• SDG 1 (No Poverty): Women’s income improves family livelihoods.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Clean water reduces disease.
• SDG 4 (Quality Education): Girls spend more time in school.
• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): Women’s decision-making power grows.
• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Communities gain sustainable access to water.

Conclusion

For Renaissance Sri Lanka, water access and women’s empowerment are not optional—they’re essential to building resilient, equitable, and thriving communities.
By ensuring that every drop of water and every hour of a woman’s time is valued, RSL lays the groundwork for lasting change—one that uplifts families, strengthens communities, and honors Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage.

References

World Bank blog, 2023

UNICEF Sri Lanka Report, 2022

UN Women Report 2020

World Bank Assessment 2021

FAO Report 2022

Solidaridad Report 2019