HALMILLEWA (ANURADHAPURA DISTRICT)

John Keells Foundation (JKF) has been supporting the lives and livelihoods of villagers in Halmillewa since 2005, with the coordination support of Cinnamon Lodge in Habarana. Halmillewa, is a small village situated in the Palugaswewa DS Division of the Anuradhapura District, with approximately 145 families (500 persons) who are mostly dependent on agriculture. Halmillewa is one of five villages covered under the John Keells Village adoption programme, which aims to uplift and empower the lives of the community towards economic and social independence. Over the past decade, activities conducted include

1. Facilitating access to clean and safe water e.g. construction of dam and canal.
2. Infrastructure development and support for schools and preschool.
3. Youth development initiatives including motivational programmes and vocational training.
4. Establishing women’s society.
5. Capacity building including sewing classes, rug-making classes, home gardening, mushroom cultivation, weaving etc.
6. Developing livelihoods via Farmer Society - donation of seed paddy, creating market linkages etc.
7. Higher education scholarships for youth.
8. Provision of solar power lights – domestic and community.
9. Development of Community Hall.

On the 9th and 10th of June 2016, John Keells Foundation visited its beloved village for the last time, where the villagers organized a touching handover ceremony