The village of Mawsirigama, located in the Elalla Grama Niladhari Division between the Andarawewa Reservoir to the west and Mattala Airport to the east, has been home to nearly thirty farming families since the 1980s. Residents rely on agriculture and wage labor for their livelihoods, yet a basic necessity—safe drinking water—remains out of reach. While the nearby Andarawewa Reservoir provides water for household use, it is heavily polluted due to the constant presence of cattle ranches and herds, making it unsafe for consumption. Although a drinking water pipeline runs along the main road at the edge of the village, it has never been extended to serve the residents of Mawsirigama. Villagers are forced to walk long distances to fetch water from households that have access, creating strain for both those without water and those sharing their supply.
Residents describe the situation as a decades-long neglect by successive governments. Mrs. H. A. Inoka said that despite repeated requests, no elected administration has ensured water reaches the village. “Our school-going children and even the elderly are suffering due to the lack of clean water. We do not even have government subsidies like Jana Saviya and Aswesuma. We are demanding that clean water be provided to us,” she said. Mr. T. D. Heen echoed her concerns, highlighting the irony of living next to a major water supply while lacking access himself. “If there is a group of people in the country who do not have drinking water, it must be us. They promised during the election period that they would provide us with drinking water. We also voted. They win, we lose. For the sake of the innocent children in this village, we request the government or someone willing to donate some water to Mawsirigama,” he said.
The plight of Mawsirigama underscores the ongoing challenges faced by rural communities in Sri Lanka, where infrastructure often fails to reach the people who need it most. Residents continue to hope that attention will finally be brought to their struggle, demanding clean water that has been denied for generations despite their proximity to major supply lines.
