The initiative is expected to benefit farming families in the area, supporting agricultural activities and daily water needs across multiple surrounding villages.Sampath Bank recently marked the commencement of restoration work at Dewagiriya Wewa in Melsiripura, attended by Chairman Harsha Amarasekera, further strengthening the Bank’s long-standing commitment to safeguarding Sri Lanka’s rural irrigation heritage through the ‘Wewata Jeewayak’ tank restoration programme.
The initiative is expected to benefit farming families in the area, supporting agricultural activities and daily water needs across multiple surrounding villages.
This restoration, undertaken in close coordination with the Parakrama Farmers Association and with technical support from the Department of Agrarian Development District Office, Kurunegala, represents the 9th tank restoration initiated by Sampath Bank in 2025 under ‘Wewata Jeewayak’.
The project responds to the growing vulnerability of village-level irrigation systems, which remain critical to sustaining livelihoods in regions where rainfall patterns are increasingly unpredictable.
Commenting on the significance of the initiative, Dr. Lalith Weragoda, Chief Human Resource Transformation Officer at Sampath Bank, said,
“As climate change places increasing pressure on rural communities, restoring village water sources such as Dewagiriya Wewa strengthens water security, reduces crop risk, and supports healthier local ecosystems with long-term socio-economic benefits.
Tank restoration is not merely a matter of engineering but a practical investment in resilience and in preserving a way of life that has sustained this nation for centuries.
‘Wewata Jeewayak’ reflects our commitment to stand alongside communities that continue to carry the responsibility of national food security.”
Dewagiriya Wewa plays a vital role beyond agriculture, serving residents in nearby villages including Diddeniya, Siyambalangamuwa, and Neeramulla, where the tank is relied upon for a range of everyday uses.
While the tank historically supported a far wider farming base, years of silt accumulation and the spread of aquatic weeds have significantly reduced its effective storage capacity, leaving farmers increasingly exposed during dry periods.Restoration work will therefore focus on dredging and removing accumulated sludge, rehabilitating the tank bund, clearing invasive aquatic plants, and restoring water distribution channels and the spillway, enabling the tank to once again function as a dependable source of irrigation and community water supply.
The project is being carried out with the active participation of local farmers and residents, reinforcing a shared sense of ownership and long-term sustainability.
Through ‘Wewata Jeewayak’, Sampath Bank continues to align its sustainability agenda with meaningful, on-the-ground action, advancing environmental stewardship while supporting social stability, economic continuity, and the resilience of Sri Lanka’s rural communities.
Photo caption : Sampath Bank officials at the groundbreaking ceremony marking the commencement of the project (top). The event also included the traditional lighting of the oil lamp, with Harsha Amarasekera, Chairman, Sampath Bank PLC; Ajantha de Vas Gunasekara, Executive Director / Chief Financial Officer, Sampath Bank PLC; Ravindra Gunawardane, Chief Manager – Branch Banking, Sampath Bank PLC; Samantha Pushpakumara, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Agrarian Development – District Office, Kurunegala; and Anjali Goonetilake, Chief Manager – Marketing, Sampath Bank PLC, while Nuwan Pathirana, Chief Manager – Head of Sustainability Department, Sampath Bank, addresses the gathering (bottom).