Sustainable Agriculture Sri Lanka Project #56139

Helping Sri Lanka's farmers get back on their feet

by Peace Winds America

Project Report | Dec 9, 2022
Food Distribution for 207 Vulnerable Families

By Sarah Maraschky | Communications Associate

Food distribution in Sri Lanka

Thanks to your donations, in mid-November 2022, Peace Winds was able to donate an additional 207 food packages to Sri Lankan families living in Piliyadi Village, Trincomalee. Food packages contain rice, flour, sugar, tea, beans, noodles, dried fish, nutritional support for children, and other nonperishable foods.

One of our Peace Winds staff members in Sri Lanka said that she has been in the country for many years, but this is the first time she has seen so much tragedy all at once. Many of the families we met are female-headed households following the disappearance or death of husbands and fathers. One woman said that both her husband and her daughter’s husband disappeared, leaving behind their children. One woman said her husband was murdered. Another woman said that her daughter had left her children to work in the Middle East, but she has stopped sending money to the family and has not been heard from recently.

These families have low and unstable incomes, many women head of household working irregular jobs as housekeepers earning about 500-600 Sri Lankan rupees per day (less than $2 USD). To supplement their income, families in Piliyadi receive or are waiting to receive Samurdhi, or government welfare. However, Samurdhi pays just 3,000-5,000 Rupees per month–the equivalent of about $8-$14. This is not nearly enough to sustain a family. Fortunately, the food packages Peace Winds distributed will support these women and their families for about a month.

The mayor of Trincomalee, who was present for the distribution of the food packages, said, “it’s really pathetic, but the government is still providing very little assistance to the people. This food assistance will be a great help for the poor who have to reduce their daily meals. Thank you very much for your donation.”

Although Sri Lanka’s economic situation has not been widely covered in the news recently, the crisis is still very much ongoing. Inflation hit a record 73.7%, keeping prices for essential goods like food, fuel, and medication out of reach for many families. Peace Winds will continue to collect donations and provide support to the vulnerable families of Trincomalee who have been hit hardest by this crisis, and we will bring more updates as we are able. Thank you for your kind support.

Food distribution in Sri Lanka

Food packages for families in Sri Lanka

Food distribution in Sri Lanka

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Oct 20, 2022
Food Distribution for 225 Vulnerable Families

By Sarah Maraschky | Communications Associate

Beneficiaries in Sri Lanka

Peace Winds would like to thank everyone who has donated to support the people of Sri Lanka so far. On September 13, 2022, our teams in Sri Lanka distributed food packages to 225 households in Mangaiyuttu Village, one of the poorest and most vulnerable communities in Trincomalee District. Food kits included rice, flour, sugar, tea, lentils, noodles, dried fish, and nutritional supplements.

A local official in charge of public assistance told us: “Many people in the village make their living by working as day laborers. Due to the economic crisis, many construction projects stopped, and the number of jobs decreased, resulting in a sharp drop in income. People here are forced to live a hard life. Last month, three women from the village left their children behind and went to work in the Middle East. We are very grateful for the food assistance provided by Peace Winds. I am truly grateful to all of you.”

Below is the voice of another local Sri Lankan, Mrs. Rohini (39) who received food assistance from Peace Winds.

“I live with my husband, a four-year-old daughter, and two sons, ages eight and 13. My husband works as a day laborer to support our family. In the past, he worked about 20 days a month, but since the economic crisis, he works about 10 days a month.

“My husband’s income used to be around 30,000 rupees ($82), but now it is only 18,000 rupees ($49). Prices are going up day by day, and now we can only buy cheap groceries such as green beans and small, dried fish. I can't remember the last time I bought fish or meat.

“We receive 3,500 rupees ($10) in cash a month from the government as welfare, but now that prices are soaring, even with my husband’s income, it is very difficult to live. Our family is very grateful. Thank you to everyone at Peace Winds.”

About six months have passed since the government declared bankruptcy, but there are still fuel shortages and power blackouts. The rate of price increases for goods like food, fuel, and medication hits a record high every month, reaching 64.3% as of August 2022. The price increase for food products in particular rose to 93.7%.

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) says that about 6.3 million people in Sri Lanka do not have enough food, and without further assistance, the crisis will only worsen. The condition of the lives of those affected has seen no improvement since the crisis began.

As we continue to receive donations, Peace Winds provide further assistance to the people of Trincomalee who are suffering from the economic crisis. Thank you for your generous support.

Distributing food packages

Residents bring home food packages

Mrs. Rohini, one of Peace Winds' beneficiaries

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