Annual Report ADT 2014

Annual Report 2014 I Alliance Development Trust I1
2I Alliance Development Trust I Annual Report 2014
CONTENTS
Uniting and Empowering Communities by Dynamic Action for

Social Peace, Public Justice and Economic Sufficiency
to Transform the Nation
16
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
48
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT
52
36
RELIEF
ASSISTANCE
MEDIA AND
COMMUNICATIONS
6
8-9
10-11
56-59
Message from the

Chief Executive Officer
Our Team
About the ADT
40
NATIONAL
PROGRAMMES
Special Initiatives
MESSAGE FROM THE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The year 2014 was full of challenges and opportunities.
There were natural disasters like the drought, floods
and landslides. Politically too there was a great deal of
pressure, with Non-Governmental Organisations facing
increased restrictions by the state. Amidst all this, the
ADT remained faithful to its calling and responded to
these challenges with great commitment.
The needs in 2014 were great and the resources as always

were limited, but the ADT extended its help in whatever
way possible to bring healing and reconciliation to
situations of brokenness and strife.
And so, as we move forward into 2015, we go ahead

with a commitment to continue to serve the poor and
vulnerable communities and empower and transform
The Alliance Development Trusts (ADT) was officially their lives.
established on 14th July 2008. The ADT reaches out
to a broader group of marginalised people working
through community-based sectors of Relief Assistance,
Community Development Programme, Childrens
Programmes, Livelihood, Water and Sanitation, HIV
and AIDS, Leprosy training and the empowering of
war widows. Through these sectors the poor and
vulnerable are rehabilitated, supported and empowered
to transform their lives through long-term sustainable Godfrey Yogarajah
assistance.
Chief Executive Officer
he
Alliance
Trusts
Development
(ADT)
development
facilitated
through
development
activities
conducted
National
as
relief
and
Programmes. Projects implemented under the Community
efforts
are
Development sector addresses needs and concerns in
community-
the areas of Livelihood, Children, Water and Sanitation
based programmes and social welfare
and
Sexual
and
Reproductive
Health
among
others.
programmes. The ADT works towards

improving the quality of life for
While the ADTs main office is located in Colombo, it effectively
victims of war and natural disasters,
reaches out to communities across Sri Lanka,through its regional
socially marginalised groups such
offices in Jaffna, Vavuniya, Trincomalee Batticaloa and Galle
as those living with HIV and AIDS
and its satellite offices in Mannar, Anuradhapura, Chilaw and
or Leprosy and other vulnerable
Gampola.
persons
including
women
and
children.
The ADT is committed to international standards of good

practice and conduct and its response will conform to such
The ADT implements its projects
recognised standards such as the Sphere Standards, People in Aid,
through
and
World Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (WANGO)
sectors
Code of Ethics and Conduct for NGOs, the ICRC Code of Conduct,
Community
International Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) and
integrated
of
Relief
the
structured
programme
Assistance,
Development Programme and other
Australian Council for International Development (ACFID).
ALLIANCE
DEVELOPMENT
TRUST
Introduction: Community Development Programme | Relief Assistance | National Programmes
NATIONAL PROGRAMMES
Throughout 2014, the ADT responded to the various
needs arising in the country with the aim of bringing
about a safer and brighter tomorrow for the sake of all
Sri Lankans. Thereby, the ADT did not remain within the
parameters of the selected villages and disadvantaged
communities, but stepped up to the need of creating
awareness on issues such as HIV and AIDS, Leprosy,
good sanitary practices, child protection, etc.
he Alliance Development Trust (ADT) has reached

out to several marginalised communities and
responded to various needs during the year
under review. In the implementation of all
projects, the ADT focuses on ensuring gender equity,
protection of the environment, the empowerment
of disabled persons and the participation of youth.
It focused on bringing about better living standards
for those in need through the various programmes
conducted.
The ADT conducted its National Programmes

under the following sectors:
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oo
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Sexual and Reproductive Health

Leprosy
Water and Sanitation
Livelihood
Children
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMME
The majority of the projects conducted by the ADT during
the year 2014 were under its Community Development
Programme. This special initiative is designed to respond
to the needs of selected communities which do not have
adequate living standards nor access to basic amenities.
All projects conducted in these selected villages are
carried out with the aim of helping the communities
reach holistic development. At the very onset of the
programme, the ADT secures the necessary approvals
of the relevant District Secretariats which also plays a
vital role in directing the ADT to identify an appropriate
village. Thereafter the ADT works closely with the
Community Based Organisations (CBOs) such as the
Rural Development Society, Womens Rural Development
Society, etc. In the event that such CBOs do not exist in
that particular village, the ADT guides the community to
form a development committee of volunteers who work
towards the betterment of their village.
At the implementation of all projects, the ADT ensures that
the communities are fully involved and are empowered to
be stakeholders of the development taking place in their
villages. In this regard, the ADT conducts special training
programmes for selected members of the community in
order to equip them to be decision makers and identify
the needs of their community and the resources available
to respond to these needs. In this manner, the ADT is able
to ensure that the development work begun during its
presence in the village is sustainable and will not end
once it phases out after a few years in order to reach out
to another marginalised community.
During the year in review, the ADT worked in a total of

nine villages selected from all around Sri Lanka. These
villages are;
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oo
Varani Iyattalai J344 Jaffna

Ulavanoor Kilinochchi
Theravil Mullaitivu
Madukulam Vavuniya
Devanampiyatissapura Stage I Anuradhapura
Kilikunjumalai Trincomalee
Iluppadichchenai 148 Batticaloa
Suhadapura, Ratmalana Colombo
Meegahagoda, Ahangama Galle
RELIEF ASSISTANCE
In 2014, the Alliance Development Trust reached out
to persons affected by various emergency situations
especially those who were victimised by the heavy
rains, drought and landslides. Furthermore, vulnerable
communities also received training on how to minimise
the risk of such disasters and on how to respond to such
situation in the event such disasters do occur. The ADT
provides assistance in the form of distribution of food
and non-food items with the aim of also providing hope
and encouragement for those affected.
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMME
Success Stories | Village Background | Projects Completed | Fact Files
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - VARANI IYATTALAI J344
FACT FILE
Photograph
- VARANI IYATTALAI J344
Total population:
1133
Number of children :
402
Ethnicity:
Tamil
Number of widows:
101
Households with monthly

incomes < SLR 1000:
200
*Data gathered by the ADT at the end of 2013
Ranjithamalar packaging her products
Ranjithamalar Tastes the Flavour of Happiness

Ranjithamalar is a very enterprising lady from Varani
Iyattalai, Jaffna. She refused to accept defeat when her
husbands demise resulted in the end of their business
venture. She was determined that she could manage to
not only look after herself but also provide for the needs
of her brothers son and daughter who were orphaned.
For years she struggled to make ends meet; she would
grind the chillies she grew in her garden, packet the
powder and sell it to the neighbouring markets. The
income she secured from these ventures were enough
for their day-to-day needs. Ranjithamalar knew that she
was capable of improving this livelihood but she was
unable to do so because she could not raise the capital
needed. So she kept trudging on in this manner, barely
managing with the marginal profit that kept her home
fires burning.
It was during this time that Ranjithamalar came to know
of an organisation called the Alliance Development Trust
that was helping the people of Varani. She came to know
of the meetings that they would hold in the community
hall about developing the community and decided that
she would tell them about her need. I told them about my
small livelihood venture and about my plans of developing
it recalled Ranjithamalar explaining how the ADT
supported her dreams of expanding her little livelihood
into a steady business. I told them that I needed money to
improve and expand this business. They approved a loan for
the development of my business. She went on to explain
how she was able to purchase a stock of chillies from her

neighbours at a lower than market price with the loan
she received. Ranjithamalars success lies in the special
flavour of her products. I roast the ingredients before I
grind them she shared with a smile. Seeing the potential
to improve her livelihood, the ADT has now given her
a second loan. Thanks to the income I receive from this
business I am able to look after my brothers children too
she said while expressing her gratitude. We learn so
much through the monthly meetings held by the ADT at
which they teach us how to invest and save the money we
earn from our livelihoods. We are learning so much about
how we can improve our lives thanks to the ADT.
PROJECTS CONDUCTED IN 2014
VARANI IYATTALAI J344
Change Makers Club benefitting

105 children
World Childrens Day celebration
benefitting 420 persons
Distribution of educational material
among 105 children
Awareness on drug and alcohol prevention
benefiting 39 persons
Awareness seminar on nutrition
HIV and AIDS awareness benefitting
204 children
Educational trip benefitting 68 children
Medical examination benefitting 30 children
Year-end get together for 105 children
Hygiene seminar benefitting 312 persons
Construction of 05 toilets benefitting
23 persons
Construction of a common toilet benefitting
140 persons
Construction of 03 tube wells benefitting
345 persons
Capacity building and training on
identifying resources available in the
village benefitting 15 persons
Entrepreneurship training for 22 persons
Distribution of 20 microfinance loans
Training programmes for 06 volunteers
Trainings on mobilising and equipping the
community benefitting 18 persons
JAFFNA
The village of Varani is a beautiful one located in the heart of Jaffna.
On sunny days the paddy fields glisten in the sunlight and gladden
the hearts of the farmers. Nevertheless, Varani is located far from
the development of the city and its inhabitants do not have
access to basic amenities such as potable water, transportation
and an irrigation system for their fields. Many still struggle to
regain their former living standards which they lost to the armed
conflict. It was with the aim of assisting them to reach better living
standards that the Alliance Development Trust (ADT) reached out
to the community of Varani. The greatest obstacle in the path of
development was the caste differences which did not permit the
community to work as one. Therefore the ADT, through its regional
office in Jaffna, worked firstly towards removing this obstacle and
promoting unity and coexistence among the villagers.
Further, as there are 402 children who call Varani their home, the
development programme taking place in this community takes
on a child-centred approach. Here it is the needs and future of
the children that receives primary focus and attention in the
implementation of all projects and activities. The ADT has been
working with the community of Varani since 2011.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - ULAVANOOR
FACT FILE
- ULAVANOOR
Total population:
1312
Number of children:
417
Ethnicity:
Tamil
Number of female-headed
households:

67
Number of wage labourers:
224
Navaleshwari leads a Community Development training
Bridging the Gap between the Community

and the Government Authorities
The Womens Rural Development Society (WRDS)
of Ulavanoor was initiated a few years ago and
Navaleshwari joined this society with much
enthusiasm. She saw the need for development in
her village and she was convinced that she should
dedicate her time for this cause. However, there was
very little they could do as women in a patriarchal
community who did not even know how to approach
the local government agents in order to raise issues
that needed to be addressed. In 2014, the Alliance
Development Trust introduced its Community
Development Programme to Ulavanoor and joined
with the WRDS in order to bring about development in
the village. Navaleshwari, who was then the President
of the WRDS, together with the other members of the
society eagerly attended all the training programmes
conducted by the ADT. They were empowered and
equipped through the training sessions which taught
them how administrative systems work, on the
responsibilities of community leaders and how to
perform their duties towards their community. We
learned the responsibilities of a leader and the duties that
need to be performed by the Secretary and the Treasurer
of the society recalls Navaleshwari. We were also able
to set up an administrative system and draw up an action
plan.
The trainings they received helped them understand

the needs of the village and how they could network
with the relevant authorities and bring them to their
notice. With the guidance of the ADT, Navaleshwari
and the WRDS members were able to liaise with the
local government bodies and appeal for a community
hall. They first approached the Grama Sevaka and the
Government Agent for their permission in this regard and
then secured the permission of the Divisional Secretary
of Kilinochchi. Within a year, the WRDS was granted a
building for their use which is now at the heart of all
their projects. The WRDS now bridges the gap between
the government and the people of Ulavanoor; advising
them in their problems and bringing their issues to the
notice of the authorities. Navaleshwari has many plans
for this new hall. We want to use this building to uplift the
standard of the childrens education. For instance we would
like to set up a library here she disclosed. We also hope
to use the premises for skill development and livelihood
training. Navaleshwari also hopes to contribute towards
a brighter tomorrow. We want to completely eliminate
poverty in our village, and we choose to do this with the
help of the ADT. This is why we formed this association. This
is what we hope to do and will continue to do.
ULAVANOOR
KILINOCHCHI
World Childrens Day celebration

Hygiene seminar benefitting
86 persons
50 persons
Cleaning, renovation and
reconstruction of 03 common wells
benefitting 141 families
Entrepreneurship training for
18 persons
Trainings on mobilising and equipping
the community benefitting 17 persons
Community initiated project: acquiring
a community hall for development
projects benefitting 1312 persons
The villagers of Ulavanoor lived through years of displacement,

trouble and turmoil due to the armed conflict which raged in the
island for 30 years. As the village, which is located in Kilinochchi
was a rebel controlled area, the villagers faced the brunt of the war
and were forced to flee their homes in search of safety. Once the
fires of the war died down, the villagers returned to their homes
bearing visible and psychological scars of the many horrors they
had lived through. A considerable number of households are
dependent on widows who are desperate without sources of
income to provide for the needs of their children. Several other
breadwinners struggle with their disabilities as they try to earn a
living as labourers. Even amidst these struggles, the community
of Ulavanoor recognises the need for a better tomorrow for their
children. They believe that armed with a sound education, their
children can lead better lives. However, the children of Ulavanoor
have little access to this education and to the brighter tomorrow
of which their elders dream. There is only one nursery school
for the children of Ulavanoor and the nearest school which is
located outside the village has classes up until the 09th grade
only. This situation has resulted in the childrens lack of interest
towards their education and the youth of the village thereby
cannot secure meaningful employment.
In a bid to keep alive the communitys hope for a better tomorrow,
the Alliance Development Trust reached out to the community
of Ulavanoor in 2014, not only to help them reach better living
standards but also to provide a sounder future for the children. It
is thereby with the best interest of the children at heart that the
ADT introduced the specially designed Child-Centred Community
Development Programme to the community of Ulavanoor. A
preschool which was constructed by the ADT in 2013 for the
benefit of the children is now at the heart of all development
taking place in the village. The Womens Rural Development
Society (WRDS) of Ulavanoor spearheads the development
taking place in this little village under the guidance of the ADT.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - THERAVIL
FACT FILE
Photograph
- THERAVIL
Total population:
414
Number of children:
173
Ethnicity:
Tamil
Number of women
widowed by the war:
28
Number of dependants:
28

Juchrista holds up the eggs she has collected from the farm
Juchristas Teamwork Benefits the Greater Good

Juchrista wakes early to finish her house chores and
take her little daughter to school. Life has not been
easy for her since her husband died as a result of a
shell attack during the ethnic war that ravaged their
peaceful little village. Now that she has more responsibilities thrust upon her, Juchrista stitches clothes as
a livelihood and grows vegetables in her garden in
order to give her child a nutritious meal. Nevertheless
she was finding it very difficult to provide for her
daughters educational needs and this was Juchristas
greatest worry.
Juchristas workload increased when she joined the
Theravil Vulnerable Persons Livelihood Promotable
Society (TVPLPS) which was initiated by the Alliance
Development Trust. As the Treasurer of this society,
Juchrista had to attend several training meetings
and she was thereafter involved in securing a special
building which would become a community poultry
farm. Her responsibilities have only increased now
that the poultry farm is functioning smoothly. As the
Treasurer of the TVPLP society, Juchrista works daily at
the accounts ledger in a small office situated in close
proximity to the community poultry farm. She often
runs over to the farm to feed and water the chickens
even though it might not be her day on the roster.
I wake up early morning attend to my housework, take

my daughter to school and come to the office at 8.00 a.m.
explained Juchrista. I leave at 12 to collect my daughter
from school and then I return to office and work till 7.00
p.m.
Juchrista is happy to contribute her time towards
the community poultry farm. A total of 35 persons
comprising of widows, disabled persons and others
who were affected by the war work on a roster to feed
the chicken, refill their water containers and clean the
cages. They share among themselves the profit incurred
from the sale of meat and eggs. Our first salary was (SLR)
2500 recalled Juchrista. The 02 following months we
earned (SLR) 3000 and thereafter we earned (SLR) 3500. As
our earnings increase, we will soon be able to save money
for our childrens education! Juchrista is very enthusiastic
about the development taking place in their little village.
Even though they still do not have an electricity supply,
the people of Theravil have joined hands with the ADT
in the name of improved living standards. They have
already laid out plans for new future projects. We plan
on working on a banana plantation and a vegetable plot
too shared Juchrista with a beaming smile and a hope
for a better tomorrow.

among 25 children
Educational trip benefitting 70 children
17 persons
benefitting 135 person
Construction of 02 tube wells
Community poultry farm benefitting
35 persons
Trainings on mobilising and equipping
THERAVIL
MULLAITIVU
The village of Theravil is quite picturesque at sunset. The golden
rays of the sun meander its way through the shady trees to reflect
off the face of a smiling villager. But all too soon the sun sets on
this little village in the heart of the Vanni which drowns into the
night with no electricity supply to sustain its light. Slowly the
smiles fade as the villagers remember the dark days of death,
displacement and destruction. The explosives used during the
war also contaminated the fertile land and sources of water. The
community was resettled to their village even in the midst of
contagious diseases and limited access to public transportation,
roads and the marketplace. Even though the community of this
village in Mullaitivu strives hard to overcome the cloud of despair
which hangs over their village since the armed war, their limited
access to basic requirements prevents them from reaching
normalcy and financial stability. There is seemingly no hope for
the future generations either as most of the youth of Theravil
do not complete their secondary education because of the lack
of facilities available and due to the years of schooling they lost
to the war. The youth too slave away as labourers, assisting their
fathers in providing for the needs of their family or taking on the
role of the breadwinner to provide for their families consisting of
widowed mothers and orphaned siblings.
In 2014, the Alliance Development Trust reached out to the
community of Theravil to help them in their quest for better living
standards. Reaching out to the community through the Rural
Development Society, the ADT provided for the needs of the people
through development education, livelihood programmes and
improving conditions of water and sanitation. The needs of the
children of Theravil are at the heart of most projects implemented
by the ADT and therefore the development programme takes on a
child-centred approach.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - MADUKULAM
FACT FILE - MADUKULAM

Total population:
193
Number of children:
47
Ethnicity:
Tamil
Households with monthly income

between SLR 5,000 SLR 10,000: 52
35
Sathyavelu shows off his prized goats
Help Comes at the Eleventh Hour

Sathyavelus parents decided to move from Kegalle
to Vavuniya in 1993 and brought with them all
their belongings loaded in two lorries. When the
guns began to rattle and bombs fell from the sky,
Sathyavelus family had to face the fear and dread of
displacement. All they could take with them was one
suitcase packed with what they thought they needed
most. Like most others in Madukulam, Sathyavelus
family returned to a destroyed home. Decades later,
Sathyavelu is now a father to two children; one
daughter attending preschool and one son who
came first in his 04th grade. His wife left these two
children to his sole care when she left the country in
search of employment. However, she took ill in June
2014 and Sathyavelu has not received any financial
support from her since then. A cloud of dread and
worry fell on Sathyavelus shoulders as he did not
know of how to provide for his childrens next meal
leave alone finance their education. He was facing a
great dilemma because he could not leave his young
children alone at home in search of employment in
the town. Not so long after, the village development
committee and an ADT officer walked into his home
to ask if they could support him with a loan to begin
a livelihood of his choice. I was able to purchase four

goats with the money I received from the loan given to
me by the ADT in July. Three of the goats are now ready to
litter two kid goats each in January and February (2015)
said Sathyavelu who is hopeful that soon he will have a
considerable number of goats. They asked me to attend
the meetings and they taught me how to run a business
profitably and how to improve my livelihood. Sathyavelu
is very happy that he is able to rear goats in his backyard.
He has also constructed a spacious shed for the goats
to protect them from the wild animals in the jungle and
to ensure that they stay healthy. I go into the jungles in
search of ladappa leaves and other leaves that they like
to eat beamed Sathyavelu who takes good care of his
goats. It is a great thing that the ADT helps people like
myself who are not employed. This livelihood has really
uplifted me and I am very grateful to the ADT. Sathyavelu
is certain that once the kid goats are born, he will be able
to earn a profitable amount from the sale of goat milk.
He hopes that his four goats will soon multiply into a
herd and he will be able to provide employment for his
neighbours and thereby help those who are in need, just
like the ADT helped him in his hour desperation.
MADUKULAM
VAVUNIYA

32 children
among 32 children
Awareness on drug and alcohol
prevention benefitting 135 persons
Awareness seminar on child
protection benefitting 35 persons
Educational trip benefitting
48 children
Medical examination benefitting
16 children
18 persons
reconstruction of a common well
benefitting 10 families
reconstruction of 12 wells for
agricultural purposes benefitting
36 families
10 persons
Distribution of a microfinance loan for
a community goat farm benefitting
03 families
Sexual and reproductive health
seminar for 31 parents
Training on mobilising and equipping
the community benefitting
11 persons
The community of Madukulam was scattered during the time of

war and was resettled back at their homes once the war ended.
However, the village they returned to was merely a shadow of the
fertile and happy village it used to be. Most of the villagers had lost
their belongings and homes to the fires of the war and therefore
fought a daily battle to get back on their feet again. For 03 years
they struggled without support from any social organisation; the
community lost out on most of the assistance that was distributed
among other war affected persons due to its rural location. Even
though the people of Madukulam tried to reach its former days
of economic sufficiency, they were unable to do so without any
assistance from an aid agency. However since the village is located
26 kilometres away from the Vavuniya town, Madukulam lost
out on several development projects and aid distribution that
benefitted other war affected communities. The villagers therefore
eke out a living as farmers or daily paid labourers.
This distance that separates the residents of Madukulam from
the nearest town also robs them of their access to health care.
Furthermore as the bus service functions only twice a day,
marketing for their food and provisions costs them an entire
days work. As there is no school in the village, travelling to the
nearest school also affects the schooling children who usually
find boarding facilities or live with relatives. This limited access to
educational facilities and the villagers financial instability result in
the children not completing their secondary education or families
leaving their village in search of greener pastures. With the hope
of creating better living conditions within the village, the Alliance
Development Trust reached out to the community in 2011. The ADT
initiated a village development committee in order to equip them
through its Community Development Programme and to empower
them to bring about development for the betterment of their
village. During the reporting period, all projects conducted by
the ADT were child-centred so that the children of this village will
benefit and have access to a brighter future.
COMMUNITY DE VELOPMENT - DEVANAMPIYATISSAPURA
FACT FILE
- DEVANAMPIYATISSAPURA
Total population:
1735
Number of children:
290
Ethnicity:
Tamil
Number widowed
by natural disasters:
45
Number of persons
employed in the government sector: 87
DEVANAMPIYATISSAPURA
ANURADHAPURA
Angel and her friends are delighted with their educational trip
Angels Adventure Fills her with Wonder

Little Angel woke up early on 15th August, 2014.
She washed herself and put on a nice dress with
fingers trembling with excitement. Together with
54 other children and 15 adults from her village she
boarded a special bus which would take them on a
trip to Sigiriya, Dambulla and Kandy. This was the very
first time 05 year old Angel would see the wonders
of these historic cities and other places of interest.
Angels friends giggled with joy as they got down at
the Rock Fortress of Sigiriya. After the troupe climbed
to the very peak of the rock fortress and admired the
vicinity, they enjoyed a picnic breakfast on the Sigiriya
grounds. Thereafter the group of explorers set off for
the historic Golden Temple of Dambulla which is one
of the largest temples in Sri Lanka. En route to Kandy,
the children visited the Polgolla Reservoir where they
took down notes on the information shared by the
guide. As all the excitement, exercise and singing
made the children hungry, the bus soon stopped for
lunch. The children almost forgot their hunger when
they realised that they would have a picnic-style
lunch at the famous Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya.
They gulped down their food so as to make more time
to walk among the flower bushes and the majestic
trees in the gardens.
Little Angel was so happy that she was able to see so
many places for the very first time. Her older friends
found the visits very informative as they could use the
information for their school work. However, little Angel

who is still in the primary grade enjoyed the flower
gardens the most. I saw lots of different flowers like roses
in the gardens she explained. I enjoyed the trip very
much as I liked travelling with my friends. The adults who
accompanied the children on the trip were very grateful
for this opportunity created for their children. As the
children of Dewanampiyatissapura do not receive an
opportunity to mingle or experience the world outside,
the adults profusely thanked the ADT for taking their
children on this expedition.

80 children
among 79 children
Awareness seminar on nutrition
Educational trip benefitting 55
children
Clearing and fencing a playground
benefitting 290 children
Children initiated project: awareness
on dengue prevention benefitting
470 persons
Construction of a toilet benefitting
04 persons
Walk and campaign to mark World
Water Day benefitting 400 persons
village benefiting 16 persons
Entrepreneurship training for 25
persons
Training on mobilising and equipping
For generations the community of Devanampiyatissapura have lived

amidst great hardships and misery. The colonial overlords brought
their forefathers from South India to perform menial labour such as
garbage collecting and cleaning the streets. Following the colonial
rule, this group of people was employed by local authorities of the
historical city of Anuradhapura to keep the city clean. They were settled
in an area within the city limits in line houses without adequate access
to basic amenities. The community was also treated negligently due
to their background. The local government later decided to preserve
the area occupied by this community as part of the historical city and
it was thus that they were relocated to Devanampiyatissapura which
is in the outskirts of Anuradhapura. However, the living conditions
in Devanampiyatissapura were not adequate either. At the point of
settling this community in Devanampiyatissapura, the construction of
the houses was not complete and the water, drainage and toilet facilities
were provided on a temporary basis. Further, as the government did
not provide any help towards improving these living conditions, it was
only a few families who were able to improve their housing conditions.
As the majority of the villagers still engage in very low profile jobs,
they continued to face hardships without proper toilet facilities and
drainage facilities. The community also faced a health situation as the
village did not have a garbage disposal system. Further, the children
of the community did not have much interest in completing their
secondary education and pursuing higher education. There was also
problems prevailing due to alcoholism, lack of attention towards child
protection and problems arising due to unwise parenting.
It was in this context that the Alliance Development Trust embraced the
community of Devanampiyatissapura in 2011 with the aim of assisting
them in reaching better living standards. Through its Community
Development Education (CDE) programme, the ADT provides the
necessary guidance to the newly formed Community Development
Society of Devanampiyatissapura to solve the common problems they
face and to take ownership of the development taking place in their
village. Special attention was paid to the needs of the children of this
village as the CDE programme took on a child-centred approach with
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - KILIKUNJUMALAI
FACT FILE
- KILIKUNJUMALAI
Total population:
154
Number of children: 60
Ethnicity:
Tamil/Sinhalese
Number of widows:
30
35
Dilukshis son takes part in the games
Fun and Games Brings a Community Together

Dilukshi moved into Kilikunjumalai as a child after the
Tsunami in 2004. As she recalls, the village was just a
jungle where a few people who had nowhere else to
go had set up temporary shelters. At the end of the war
more people moved into Kilikunjumalai even though
the basic amenities such as water and electricity
supply were not accessible. As the people living in
Kilikunjumalai hailed from different backgrounds
and walks of life, the villagers would most often keep
to themselves and would not gather to even discuss
the issues they face or how they could develop their
village. The ADT came to the village in 2011 recollects
Dilukshi. They asked us about the needs of the people
and they helped us to form a development committee for
the village. Dilukshi who is now a mother of three, is
very much involved in the development programmes
taking place in Kilikunjumalai as a member of the village
committee. She was among those who proposed that
a cultural event be organised to celebrate the Sinhala
and Tamil New Year as one community.
On 05th May 2014, the whole village comprising
of 154 persons, gathered at the village grounds in
anticipation of a time of great fun and enjoyment.
Some of the cultural games enjoyed by the young
and the old were breaking clay pots blind-folded,
balloon games, pinning the eye on the elephant,
musical chairs, a bun-eating contest, a duck race and
a family marathon. The days celebrations culminated
with a beauty pageant. There were visitors from
other surrounding villages who also came to witness

the fun and games taking place at Kilikunjumalai. The
participation in all the entertainment activities was
high as the children, youth and adults enthusiastically
engaged in the games and activities.
The festival celebrations united the villagers of
Kilikunjumalai and it fostered great comradery amongst
them. This is the very first time we organised a New
Year celebration. We organised this event because our
children have not taken part in such celebrations before
said Dilukshi who went on to say that as a mother she
is grateful that her children were able to take part in
this event. I am happy that my children took part in this
celebration. My youngest son used to be very shy and
would not speak with outsiders. At this event I was happy
to see him taking part in the games. Similarly, after the
cultural event we see that there is unity amongst the entire
community.
KILIKUNJUMALAI

60 children
among 60 children
Awareness seminar on education
Awareness on child rights and
protection benefitting154 persons
Awareness seminar on social issues
and the responsibilities of parents
and children benefitting 88 persons
40 children
World Childrens Day celebrations
Children initiated project: tree
planting benefitting 55 children
Year-end get together for
60 children
Programmes to mark World Water
Day benefitting 150 persons
34 persons
Installation of pipe line benefitting
12 families
17 persons
Distribution of 10 microfinance
loans
Awareness seminar on sexual and
reproductive health and gender
Training on mobilising and
equipping the community
TRINCOMALEE
Among the disruption caused by the 30 year long ethnic war, was
the great number of families who had to face the uncertainty of
displacement. Many left their homes and belongings behind as
they fled the war affected areas in search of safety. There were a
considerable number of families who even left the country and
sought shelter in neighbouring India until the fires of war died down.
On returning to the country with great hopes of living peacefully,
there were families which were dismayed to find that they had no
homes anymore. Among such families who had nowhere to go were
the families who were relocated in the village of Kilikunjumalai in
Trincomalee. This small valley, surrounded by tall hills that keep
watchful vigil over this sleepy hamlet, now is home to 43 families.
Even though it is only 08 kilometres away from the nearest town,
the villagers still do not have access to pipe-borne water and certain
families do not have electricity supply. Also, the villagers are forced
to walk 02 kilometres to the nearest bus service that takes them to
the town. The children have to cover 03 kilometres on foot to the
nearest school. Due to their low income, the villagers are unable
to improve their poor living conditions. They still live in temporary
homes of clay and wattle sheltered by tin roofing sheets. A number
of families use a common toilet or a neighbours toilet; some others
are forced to use the jungle to relieve themselves. The rock quarry
near the village causes several health hazards; the children suffer
from trauma because of the loud noise caused by the dynamite and
the villagers cough up blood due to the rock dust that they breathe.
It was in a bid to improve the living conditions of the villagers
and the children of Kilikunjumalai that Alliance Development Trust
initiated its Child-Centred Community Development Programme.
Simultaneous to the construction of toilets and tube wells for the
use of the community, the ADT also formed a special development
committee who are trained and equipped to identify their needs
and take ownership of the development taking place in the
village. Together, the ADT and the development committee now
bring improved standards of living to each and every home in
Kilikunjumalai.
COMMUNITY DE VELOPMENT - ILUPADICHCHENAI 148
FACT FILE - ILUPADICHCHENAI 148

Total population:
1,348
Number of children:
606
Ethnicity:
Tamil
Number of dependants:
93
Number of farmers:
71
ILUPADICHCHENAI 148
BATTICALOA
Menaka guides her students in learning the Tamil alphabet
Better Resources means Better Performance
As a new day dawns upon the quiet village of

Valakkalai, Menaka neatly drapes her saree and ties
her hair into a tight bun. As a preschool teacher,
she looks forward to going to work at the Gandhi
Preschool where she teaches 15 precious little ones
the ABCs. Nevertheless there are days when she is
saddened by the thought that the parents do not take
enough interest in the childrens education. Menaka
believes that preschool education is quite necessary
as it teaches children important things which they
need to know within these formative years of their
life. Sadly, the parents of certain children do not grasp
the importance of preschool education and thereby
attendance on some days are poor. Even though
Menaka would advise them to send their children on a
regular basis, the parents did not seem to understand.
posters that line the walls. There is an improvement in the

childrens knowledge after the ADT provided us with these
posters. They often point to the pictures and respond well to
what is taught. Even Nalini, a young mother who came
to pick her daughter from school, said that she sees an
improvement in her daughters education. The school
has seen much progress, particularly in relation to the
material they have to teach the children she expressed.
However the attendance did improve when the

preschool received a new coat of paint. Since the
children also receive nutrition packs, breakfast
and even a mid-day meal, the children too are now
enthusiastic about coming to school. It has been very
beneficial for us since the Alliance Development Trust
came to Iluppadichchenai. They provided the school
with educational material and necessary equipment
too said Menaka who is grateful for the colourful
Training for 295 paddy and Other Food

Crop farmers
Distribution of agricultural inputs
among 240 farmers
Establishment of compost units
Skill development trainings benefitting
40 persons
Distribution of high-breed cows among
13 war widows
Training on micro enterprises
development benefitting 157 persons
Exposure visits and exhibitions
Training for Community Based
Organisations benefitting 144 persons
Community initiated projects
benefitting 1,431 persons
Awareness seminars on human rights
Environmental awareness programmes
Equipping and training 135 community
mobilisers
Assessment of nutritional needs among
115 children
Awareness seminars on health, hygiene
and nutrition benefitting 190 persons
Distribution of nutritional supplements
among 150 children
Construction of 04 wells for agricultural
purposes benefitting 75 persons
Renovation of 03 preschools benefitting
80 children
The community of Iluppadichchenai 148 consists of four villages,

namely, Valakkalai, Sinnakalaipodamadu, Navalthottam and
Iluppadichchenai. Situated in the rural localities of the Batticaloa
District, these villages are filled with acres of paddy fields and
grazing grounds for herds of cattle and goat. The villagers go about
their daily routines with a smile on their faces in readiness to greet a
neighbour. The birds perched high on the palmyrah fronds whistle
songs of peace and serenity. However the villagers remember when
the air would rattle with the sounds of guns and echo with the cries
of people. The people of this community faced displacement during
the time of war and went through indescribable hardships in times of
floods and drought. These hardships and lack of access to education
and employment forced the people of Iluppadichchenai into poverty.
As the main sources of income are agriculture and animal husbandry,
the villagers earnings are enough for their days meals and basic
necessities. Those who cannot afford to maintain their fields, often
sell their fields and work as labourers in a neighbours field. Often the
prolonged dry season affects the paddy cultivation as the farmers do
not have access to a proper irrigation system. During the dry season,
the farmers are forced to abandon their fields and engage in unskilled
labour. Water scarcity is a major issue for this community as they walk
approximately 05 kilometres in search of potable water. Even though
there are several open wells in the village, the water in these wells are
polluted. The villagers do not have access to any sanitation facilities.
Also, there are no schools in these four villages and the schooling
children travel long distances to get to the nearest school.
The Alliance Development Trust entered Iluppadichchenai in 2012
with an integrated Community Development Education initiative to
support this community faced with low standards of living. Through
its specially designed development plan, the ADT initiated several
projects to improve the health conditions of the people, provide
skill training, improve their access to water and sanitation facilities
and equip the community to attain development for the entire
community. During its presence in Iluppadichchenai, the ADT worked
closely with the Community Based Organisations and empowered
them to take ownership
Annual Report
of their
2014 tomorrows.
I Alliance Development Trust I31
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - SUHADAPURA
FACT FILE - SUHADAPURA

Total population:
472
Number of children:
175
Ethnicity:
Sinhalese/ Tamil
Number of female-headed
households:
18
Number of wage labourers: 51

Bhanuka learns an important lesson
Bhanuka Learns the Importance

of Child Security
Bhanuka hurried through his lunch and homework
on 7th October, 2014. He had to be ready for the
special programme organised by the Change Makers
Club he belonged to. Even though he was only 10
years old, Bhanuka understood the importance of
World Childrens Day which would be marked at this
programme. He was not late but he had to struggle
to get a seat in the small temple hall where 64
children and 11 adults gathered to witness the
days proceedings. Officers from the National Child
Protection Authority graced the occasion as the chief
guests and speakers who addressed the gathering
on several important issues. The audience was
instructed to change their lifestyles for the better.
The children were advised to inculcate good habits,
set goals for themselves, to avoid dark and lonely
places where gangs of men lurk, to always travel
with a companion, to protect ones body, to scream
for help when inappropriate advances are made
and to report any nature of abuse. This session was
conducted in a manner which even the younger
children understood, where games were conducted
to retain their attention and interest. A short movie
clip was also played for the benefit of the older girls
and the 11 parents present.
needs and capabilities. As he felt neglected and unloved,

the protagonist spent his time instead with his friends.
His family becomes concerned about his safety when
the boy is reported to be missing. The boy then returns
to his family with a poignant message for all the parents
Love me and pay attention to my needs when Im around;
dont wait till I go missing to show me how much you care.
Everyone took home a new message which they had
learnt. Bhanuka said that he learnt the importance of
protecting himself. I learnt today that I must not go
anywhere alone he said. Todays programme taught me
that I should go with an adult if Im going anywhere. The
Alliance Development Trust supported and guided the
Change Makers Club in conducting this programme with
the aim of protecting the children and securing a better
tomorrow for them.
SUHADAPURA
RATMALANA

83 children
among 83 children
Awareness seminars on child
protection benefitting 123 persons
Awareness seminar on health and
nutrition benefitting 40 children
Medical examination for 22 children
Educational trip benefiting
65 children
Children initiated projects
Year-end get together for
83 children
Community cleaning (shramadhana)
09 persons
Distribution of 09 microfinance
loans
Training on mobilising and
equipping the community
12 persons
Construction of a fence on the bank
of the lake benefitting 170 families
As the morning dawns, the children of Suhadapura wake up to

a cacophony of noises. Not only can they hear their mothers
preparing breakfast but they can also hear the bustle of activities
taking place in the households next door. The people of
Suhadapura belong to a shanty community living in small houses
constructed with wood and bricks with little or no space between
each other. Even though they are not far from the developed
cities of the Colombo District, there are several problems that this
community face due to underdevelopment and neglect of this
locality. The community is vulnerable to natural disasters; during
the rainy season the lake near the village floods the streets. During
such times, the community not only fears the illnesses that may
spread but also attacks from crocodiles. Further the sanitation
facilities and drainage facilities in this locality is poor and this
affects the living conditions of the Suhadapura community. As
many of the residents engage in low profile jobs, they find it very
difficult to contribute towards improving these conditions of the
community. Also, the children of the community face several
issues due to the parents low knowledge of child protection. The
needs of the children often tend to be neglected as both parents
are employed.
The Alliance Development Trust reached out to Suhadapura in
2011 in order to mobilise the community to attain better living
standards. A special Child-Centred Community Development
Programme was initiated to bring about a better tomorrow for
the children of Suhadapura. The ADT also continued to train and
equip the village development committee of Suhadapura which
was formed to address the needs of the community and thereby
take ownership of the development taking place.
The children too had something special planned for

the day. A drama addressing the issue of the attention
the children need from their parents. It was a story of
a boy whose mother and siblings did not heed his
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - MEEGAHAGODA
FACT FILE - MEEGAHAGODA

Total population:
1060
Number of children:
Ethnicity:
299
Sinhala
Number of persons
with disabilities:
12
Number of self-employed
persons:
81
The people of Meegahagoda clean their neighbourhood
Health and Safety Education

for Communities in Dengue Hotspots
Another day dies down and the villagers of
Meegahagoda feel a deep sense of guilt weigh
them down. The sharp pain from a mosquito bite
is a reminder that the garden and backyard are still
unattended. Their children complain about the
mosquitoes that bite them when they are studying in
the morning. There is a discussion within the family
about a recent victim of dengue and the escalating
number of cases reported in Galle. However it is too
late to trim the overgrown hedges; maybe tomorrow
there might be time to attend to the garden.
Nevertheless the sun would set again tomorrow while
mosquitoes continue to breed in the overlooked
puddles, fish tanks, broken flower pots and waste
material that lie forgotten in a drain.
There was a great need to spread awareness about
the cleanliness of the village of Meegahagoda in
order to prevent the spread of dengue which had
already claimed lives in the Galle District. As the rainy
season had just begun to increase the vulnerability
of the villagers, the Village Development Committee
of Meegahagoda organised a dengue prevention
programme on 18th October, 2014. The committee
together with the local Physical Health Inspector (PHI),
local government agent (Grama Sevaka), divisional
social services officer and two police constables visited

each home in the village with advice for a healthier
lifestyle. They encouraged the households to clean
their gardens and surroundings while inspecting places
where water could collect and provide a breeding
ground for mosquitoes. The villagers also received
information about dengue and how it spreads. The
officials motivated the villagers to destroy mosquito
breeding grounds for the sake of the children who are
most vulnerable to the disease.
The inspection prompted the villagers to immediately
attend to their neglected gardens. The children joined
their parents as they trimmed the bushes, cleaned
the drains and swept the gardens. The ADTs regional
coordinator for the South also ensured that posters
with messages on dengue prevention were displayed
in prominent locations. The villagers were grateful for
this programme that encouraged them to keep their
surroundings clean. Chandrika, a police constable who
joined in this awareness campaign, was glad that she too
could contribute to a better lifestyle among the people
of Meegahagoda. I am happy to take part in this activity
she expressed. I realised that the people too appreciated
the individual attention we paid them since they left all
their other engagements to join in the programme.
MEEGAHAGODA, AHANGAMA
GALLE
Change Makers Clubs benefitting

95 children
among 95 children
Awareness seminar on drugs and
alcohol benefitting 76 persons
48 children
Medical examination benefitting
30 children
Dengue prevention programme
60 children
25 persons
Installation of tap line benefitting
60 persons
Training mobilising and equipping the
community benefitting 14 persons
Playground for youth benefitting
221 persons
Once their husbands go to town in search of manual labour, the

womenfolk of Meegahagoda take their young children to school.
Then they sit in their gardens in front of a rusted spinning wheel and
spin yarns of coir-rope which they sell to the markets. This additional
income helps the households acquire their daily necessities and
provide for the childrens educational needs. However around 20% of
the households in this village do not have access to pipe-borne water
and electricity supply as they cannot afford to pay for the connection
and for the usage of these amenities. Many of the households face
financial hardships and therefore their propensity to save is very low.
There have been several occasions where children have been forced
into early marriages also due to the parents financial difficulties. The
households of Meegahagoda also face certain difficulties due to
alcoholism; some families are living through financial difficulties and
domestic violence because of the breadwinners alcohol dependency.
Further, the school within the village has very few facilities and
resources available. Therefore the parents try to enrol their children to
other schools. As the children lack access to proper education and do
not qualify for university entrance, the parents do not persuade their
children to engage in their studies. Thereby there is very little social
mobility seen within the community of Meegahagoda.
Even though the Alliance Development Trust reached out to this
community with the hope of empowering them to attain better living
conditions, it faced several challenges in garnering the support of the
entire community. Nevertheless the ADT introduced its Child-Centred
Community Development Programme to the village in 2011 and several
development programmes have already been implemented by the
Village Development Committee and the Change Makers childrens club
initiated by the ADT.
RELIEF
ASSISTANCE
Relief for Flood Victims | Relief for Drought Victims | Relief for Landslide Victims
RELIEF ASSISTANCE
RELIEF ASSISTANCE
During the period under review, Sri Lanka faced the
hardships of adverse weather conditions and many
living in affected areas lost their homes, belongings
and loved ones. The Alliance Development Trust
reached out to those affected by these natural
disasters in a bid to help them in their time of dire
need and to assist them to return to normalcy.
The ADT provided relief in the wake of the floods,
landslides and the period of drought which was
experienced in the island in 2014.
Relief Assistance for Flood Victims

A total of 11 districts experienced an unprecedented
rainfall and floods in July and August 2014. This
extreme weather condition affected a total of
104,525 persons and displaced 6,100 persons who
had to seek temporary shelter at school and public
venues. Further records indicate 26 deaths, 10
casualties and one person who was reported missing.
The victims of the heavy rains and floods were left in
a most desperate state of helplessness as they battled
hunger, fear, cold and spreading illnesses in camps
for the displaced.
Colombo, Galle, Kalutara, Kegalle, Kandy and

Ratnapura. These packs contained rice, sugar, biscuits,
samaposha (processed cereal), soya, green gram, flour,
dhal, tea leaves, candles and matches, mosquito nets,
bed sheets, soap, toothpaste and tooth brushes, water
bottles and sanitation packs. The beneficiaries of these
relief packs were identified through the regional offices
so as to reach out to those who were most affected.
Furthermore, special steps were taken to ensure that
the aid reaches children, women and disabled persons
affected by the floods.
Relief Assistance for Drought
Victims
Even while certain parts of the island were experiencing
torrential rains, certain other parts of Sri Lanka were
facing severe drought conditions. A total of 14 districts
were affected and persons living especially in the
Northern, Eastern and North Central provinces endured
unimaginable hardships without water to quench their
thirst and bless their fields. Among the areas that were
greatly affected was the village of Theravil in Mullaitivu
which, due to its interior location, lost out on aid which
was distributed by other relief agencies.
Realising the great need of these villagers, the ADT
supported the community of Theravil through the
distribution of relief packs among 153 families on 11th
October, 2014. These packs containing red rice, wheat
flour, sugar, dhal, tinned fish, milk powder and soap
were valued at SLR 3,500.
with many hardships without access to essential needs

and facilities as they sought temporary shelter in a school
and an old factory. A total of 50 families received relief
packs through the ADT which contained several food
and non-food items that they needed. The beneficiaries
were very thankful for the assistance extended through
the distribution of relief items which took place on 17th
November, 2014.
Relief Assistance for Landslide

Victims
In the wake of this disaster, the ADT provided

assistance to those victimised by the torrential rains,
floods and earth-slips in the form of dry rations and
non-food relief items. Relief packs which were valued
between SLR 2,500 and SLR 3,000 were distributed
among 9,567 individuals from the affected areas
of Batticaloa, Nuwara Eliya, Monaragala, Gampaha,
The attention of the entire nation and the international

community was on the victims of the landslides which
took place in the Badulla District in October, causing loss
of lives and property and displacing approximately 1000
persons. While the majority of the relief was distributed
among those who were affected in the Koslanda and
Meeriyabedda, areas equally affected such as the
Udaveriya estate received no assistance due to its rural
location. The residents of this community were faced
NATIONAL
PROGRAMMES
Sexual and Reproductive Health | Leprosy | Water and Sanitation | Livelihood | Children
NATIONAL - SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Project Positive the ADTs Sexual and Reproductive

Health (SRH) Desk continued to create awareness
on sexual and reproductive health, HIV, AIDS,
substance abuse and gender-related issues. Through
these programmes the ADT reaches out to the social
groups that are most vulnerable to contracting
sexually transmitted diseases such as those who fall
prey to substance abuse, sexual abuse and those
who enter into early marriages. The transit home for
Persons Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs) continued
to function under the guidance and support of the
ADT. Several programmes were also conducted for
the benefit of HIV infected and affected persons.
Awareness seminar on HIV, AIDS and SRH
for 78 youth and young parents Jaffna
Awareness seminar on SRH and drug
awareness benefitting 32 persons Colombo
Awareness seminar on SRH and gender issues for
110 parents Kandy
84 adolescents Anuradhapura
Awareness seminar on SRH for 28 youth Colombo
120 teachers Nawalapitiya
78 adolescents - Nuwara Eliya
Awareness seminar on SRH and gender issues
benefitting 75 persons Kandy
Awareness seminar on SRH for 29 youth Vavuniya
Awareness seminar on SRH for 84 youth
Anuradhapura
Awareness seminar on HIV, AIDS and SRH
benefitting 334 persons - Jaffna, Colombo and
Batticaloa
Awareness Seminar on SRH for 72 students

Trincomalee
Nutritional support for 16 PLWHAs Islandwide
Educational Support for HIV infected and
affected 75 children Islandwide
Distribution of Nutrition Packs among 75 HIV
affected families Island wide
A PLACE TO CALL HOME

Anjali* was only 18 years old when she was forced
into an early marriage to a stranger. Eleven days
after her wedding, Anjali came to know that she had
contracted HIV from her husband. At 19 years, Anjali
was a widow. She was 23 years old when her own
mother robbed Anjali of her jewellery and money
before driving her out of the house. In the same year,
she first attempted to commit suicide and had to be
hospitalised. I hid the medicines they gave me because
I felt that death would be better than life recalled
Anjali who explained that the doctors were puzzled
as to why her condition was not improving. It was at
the hospital that Anjali came to know of the Alliance
Development Trust who looks after abandoned
people like herself. Following the direction of the
doctors, Anjali visited Safe House. They listened to my
troubles and told me that they would do everything in
their power to help me. They asked me to stay at Safe
House and arranged for me to receive counselling. The
ADTs Safe House has been Anjalis home since 2009.
It was at this transit home that she met Nadishan*
whom she chose as her partner for life. His story is
not too different from Anjalis. Rejected by his parents
and siblings, Nadishan too contemplated on suicide
before he came to Safe House. Thereafter, with help
from his wife, he managed to mend his lifestyle and
take care himself. Anjali and Nadishan have found
true happiness in each other. They have now joined
hands with the ADT to reach out to others affected by
HIV. It is because of the help received at Safe House that
we are alive today expressed Nadishan. We believe
that with the ADTs help we will be able to encourage
those like ourselves and show them the path to life
Anjali added with a smile.
REACHING OUT TO TOUCH PERSONS WITH LEPROSY
LEPROSY
For many years Persons Affected by Leprosy (PABL) have

been ostracised by societies which abandon Leprosy
patients for the fear of contracting the disease. In
certain communities, those who are detected with the
disease are often looked down on as untouchables.
However the advancements in medicine encourage
us to accept the PABL and not cast them out of our
social circles. As the number of Sri Lankans detected
with Leprosy is on the rise, there is now a great need
to raise awareness on Leprosy and prevent the spread
of Leprosy, as well as, accept and reach out to those
living with Leprosy.
In 2014, the ADT relaunched its Leprosy Desk in

response to the resurgence of Leprosy related
cases reported in Sri Lanka. Even though Leprosy
is an infection which is completely curable and
for which there is free treatment available in the
country, the lack of awareness and stigma against
Leprosy still prevent patients from detecting
and treating the infection before it spreads and
causes deformation. The ADT launched the
Touch Leprosy Project in a bid to battle against
the spread of Leprosy and the stigma affecting
persons living with Leprosy. The project also aims
at providing the patients with necessary aftercare
and psychological support which is essential to
successfully reintegrate them into society.
Leo Sebastian who is a community leader in Nuwara

Eliya recently attended the Touch National Leprosy
Conference which was conducted at the MAS Fabric
Park in Thulhiriya from 08th to 10th September,
2014. He was among the 120 community leaders
who participated at this conference organised by the
Alliance Development Trust. The conference equipped
the participants from all around Sri Lanka to create
awareness on the symptoms of the disease, fight
against the stigma and provide for the necessary
aftercare for Leprosy patients. Dr. Nilanthi Fernando,
the Director of the Anti-Leprosy Campaign of Sri Lanka,
who graced the conference as the Chief Guest, joined
the other Guests of Honour to discuss the medical
facts and findings, the stigma, the legal and the social
aspects of the disease.
Leo found this conference quite educative. He learnt
the importance of creating awareness of the facts
about Leprosy such as that it is completely curable,
early medication can prevent deformities, the disease
spreads as respiratory droplets and that patients who
take the necessary treatment can lead a normal life.
This conference also helped me realise my responsibility
and obligation to return home with this message for
my community. We are very grateful to the ADT for this
wonderful programme expressed Leo. All participants
who represent the 25 districts of Sri Lanka returned
to their homes empowered to spread awareness on
Leprosy and also with the training necessary to train
others to do so.
A national conference was organised in

collaboration with the Anti-Leprosy Campaign of
Sri Lanka for community leaders from all parts
of the country where they were equipped to
create awareness with regard to the prevalence
of Leprosy, the symptoms and the treatment
available as well as fight against the stigma.
All training programmes were conducted on a
Training of Trainers basis where those equipped
will not merely spread awareness but also equip
others to do so.
Touch National Leprosy Conference benefitting
120 persons
Training of Trainers workshop benefitting
27 persons
*Names have been changed to protect the beneficiaries identity.
NATIONAL - LEPROSY
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
NATIONAL - WATER AND SANITATION
TAKING IT TO THE STREETS
A POSITIVE IMPACT ON HER LIVELIHOOD
LIVELIHOOD
Access to potable water and adequate sanitation

facilities are necessities of every human being.
However, several communities still live without
access to water and sanitation. Communities
in war affected areas face numerous hardships
because the ethnic war polluted their wells
and destroyed their other sources of water and
sanitation. Due to their poverty, these villagers are
unable to construct wells and toilets through their
own effort. With the aim of improving the water
and sanitation facilities of such communities the
Alliance Development Trust reached out to them
in their time of need. The ADT also continued
to conduct campaigns to create awareness on
proper hygiene practices and on the need for
water conservation.
The people who call Vavuniya home live at a risk of

developing kidney-related illnesses as most of them do
not have access to safe drinking water. While a minority
of this group try their best to escape this fate, most of
them simply submit to it due to their ignorance of how
to avert this situation. However the solution to this
problem is as simple as drinking boiled water. In a bid
to spread this vital message, the Alliance Development
Trust marked World Water Day on 29th March, 2014 by
raising awareness on the importance of clean water on
the streets of Vavuniya town.
Faheema* still remembers the day she and her

husband tested positive for HIV. Over the years she
saw her husbands health deteriorate and she soon
realised that she would have to take on the role of the
breadwinner. She was concerned for the sake of her
two sons and daughter; she wanted to provide them
with the nutrition they needed to lead healthy lives and
educate them as best as she could. Faheema was also
trying her best to restore her husband to health and
in order to find the means to support all these needs,
she tried her hand at operating a small grocery store.
However, Faheema did not have the required skills and
knowledge to run a business on her own. Not long after,
Faheema realised that this business was a loss and that
she had even lost the money invested in it. Faheema
was in a very desperate state when the Alliance
Development Trust invited her and 16 others to attend
a training programme on Start Your Business which was
conducted in November 2014. Faheema knew that this
was not an opportunity to be missed and she attended
the training with much enthusiasm. Her interest was
rewarded when the officers of the Infectious Diseases
Hospital (IDH) identified Faheema among nine other
Persons Living with HIV as recipients of a livelihood loan.
Faheema was able to reopen her grocery store with the
financial support she received and to identify a suitable
location to operate her business successfully. Faheema
now earns a monthly income of SLR 7,500 which pays
for her household needs. Recently, Faheema lost her
husband and she is now a single mother. I am grateful
for the training and the assistance I received she said,
explaining how she can now afford to send her children
to school. I am even able to save some of the money I
earn she beamed.
In 2014, the Livelihood Desk focused on alleviating

poverty from female-headed households whilst
also reaching out to homes of marginalised groups.
In order to ensure that female breadwinners did
not leave their homes and their young children in
search of employment, the Alliance Development
Trust provided financial support that helped
them engage in a livelihood from home. The
beneficiaries of the loans and grants also received
training and advice on how to identify a profitable
livelihood and how to plan their business ventures
strategically. The microfinance loans that were
distributed have easy pay-back schemes with
very low interest rates that, once repaid, will
be distributed among other persons in need of
financial support.

Street dramas to mark World Water Day
benefitting approximately 1000 persons
Vavuniya
A walk and a campaign to mark World Water
Day benefitting approximately 400 persons
Colombo
20 persons Colombo
Construction of 05 toilets Puthukkudiyiruppu
(Mullaitivu)
Construction of tube well benefitting
500 persons Puthukkudiyiruppu (Mullaitivu)
Construction of 05 tube wells benefitting
150 persons Kilinochchi
It were children from the ADT initiated Change Makers

Clubs who took this message to the people of Vavuniya
through street dramas enacted under the guidance
of an elder. Their words of advice resounded over
loudspeakers attracting the attention of hundreds of
vendors, shoppers and commuters. Drinking water
from our wells affect our kidneys and livers rang the
message. We should boil the water before drinking it.
The general public were also advised on the importance
of protecting lakes, rivers and other sources of water
and were informed on good sanitary practices. The
dramas were enacted in four different places in and
around Vavuniya Town; namely the marketplace,
the bus depot, the Kurumankadu junction and the
Poonthottam junction. Nearly 1000 persons witnessed
this event with hundreds of persons stopping to hear
more of the message.
I understand the importance of drinking boiled water
because I am nursing my sick son back to health said
one bystander. It is important that this message reaches
every home. We can protect our next generation by
teaching them to drink clean water.

Distribution of a microfinance loan Jaffna
Distribution of 10 livelihood grants
among widows Mullaitivu
Entrepreneurship training for 17 Persons
Living with HIV - Islandwide
Distribution of microfinance loans among
09 Persons Living with HIV Islandwide
*Name has been changed to protect the beneficiarys identity.
NATIONAL - LIVELIHOOD
WATER AND SANITATION
NATIONAL - CHILDREN
CHILDREN
BOOSTING HEALTH THROUGH NUTRITION PACKS
The Alliance Development Trust believes that it

is important to create a better tomorrow for all
children and the best interest of children are at the
heart of most of its activities.
For the younger children of the Iruddumadu Tamil

Vidyalayam in Mullaitivu, the war was a struggle
for survival in the camps for Internally Displaced
Persons (IDP). Even though they survived hunger
and unhygienic circumstances in IDP camps, these
children still bear the scars of malnutrition. As they
continue to live amidst absolute poverty and dire
need, their physical development is low and the
children lack the strength needed to concentrate
on their studies and take part in extra-curricular
activities. Ms. Balakumari Vishvanathan, the Principal
of the school, has observed several occasions on
which the children have fallen ill because they
come to school on an empty stomach. A total of
107 students received nutritional packs from the
Alliance Development Trust (ADT) at a programme
held on 10th October, 2014. The occasion was held
under the auspices of the Divisional Commander
of the Sri Lanka Army, officials representing
local government institutions, officers from the
Department of Education, school staff and the people
of Iruddumadu. Further, 43 expectant mothers from
low income families received nutrition packs. Sujitha
who is at the beginning of her pregnancy, was very
grateful for the pack she received. I was so worried
because I couldnt afford the milk and food the doctor
prescribed she disclosed. I am very grateful to the
ADT and Im happy to receive these nutritious items.
Ms. Vishvanathan too appreciated the ADTs gesture
towards the children. The children are happy that
they received these food items she stated, explaining
how the children would eat nutritious meals during
their interval. They have enjoyed nutritious meals for
20 consecutive days. The children are very happy and
much more active now.
During the period in review, the ADT conducted

several programmes for the benefit of children
from underprivileged and marginalised sectors of
society. All programmes conducted by the ADTs
Childrens Sector on a national level were in a bid to
encourage and provide for the needs of children
with special needs, HIV infected and affected
children and children from rural and war affected
areas.
World Childrens Day celebrations benefitting
1047 persons Vavuniya
Programme to mark the International Week of
the Deaf benefitting 900 persons Kilinochchi
and Mullaitivu
Programme to mark the International Day
of Persons with Disabilities benefitting
125 persons Galle
Distribution of nutrition packs among
150 persons - Puthukkudiyiruppu (Mullaitivu)
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BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
During the period under review, the Business
Development Unit of the Alliance Development Trust
(ADT) continued to conduct its project with the
following objectives;

Vimalarani showcases her products
Vimalarani: Sole Breadwinner,
Generating additional income for the ADTs

regional offices
Empowering and providing employment
opportunities for local communities
Utilising part of the profits earned by this unit
for social work (i.e. self-employment for widows)
The Business Development Unit relies on the donations

and bequests of generous sponsors. Most of the projects
conducted were centred on empowering widows and
other vulnerable communities. There are more than
40,000 female-headed families in the North of the
country who are struggling to find gainful employment
and have endless concerns over food security, family
security and the security of their children. Being
gainfully self-employed also means that they can
manage the well being of their families more diligently
while working from home.
The beneficiaries of these projects have been

equipped through the provision of the capital
needed to begin self-employment ventures in a
bid to help them reach improved living standards.
The Business Development Unit also invested in
business ventures of several other disadvantaged
persons through the provision of loans. During
the year in review the Business Development
Unit provided seven beneficiaries with soft
loan facilities for the purposes of starting and
continuing self-employment ventures in tailoring,
confectionary and red rice flour manufacturing,
manufacturing of palmyrah based handicrafts, joss
sticks, camphor, tooth powder and the production
of cassava chips and fried snacks.
The loans are provided via a special revolving loan
scheme that ensures more than one beneficiary
benefits through the same capital, once the initial
loan is repaid.
Single Parent, One Objective

Vimalarani is a single parent now resettled after the war
in Mawayalatai, Jaffna. She is the sole breadwinner for
her family which includes her daughter, mother, father
and her sister. Her main burden was to ensure that her
daughter received a proper education. With no proper
skills to embark on a livelihood, Vimalarani joined the
Ministry of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise
Development which trained her in different aspects
of business; marketing, profit and loss, packaging,
etc. Vimalarani and the other trainees also had the
opportunity to visit a few other enterprises. They visited
the Cashew Corporation and saw how the cashew nuts
were packed and also a pottery business done as a
cottage enterprise.
When selecting a livelihood Vimalarani opted to do
something she already knew; she chose to make
murukku and savoury bites. The Business Development
Unit gave Vimalarani a loan of SLR 10,000 to start her
business venture. Initially, Vimalarani joined two other
women and commenced this business venture. After
sometime, her associates were forced to discontinue due
to family commitments. However, Vimalarani continued

with the help of her mother and sister. She now supplies
packets of cassava chips, murukku and kadala mixture
to six shops. I stay up till late night to packet the products
and label them so that I can distribute them to the shops
in the morning said Vimalarani, explaining to us her
commitment to this livelihood which helps her provide
for her familys needs. Today, Vimalarani has registered
her business with the local Pradeshiya Sabhawa and has
employed two other women from her neighbourhood
to meet the demands of her little business.
Before this I was finding it very difficult as I have to do the
majority of the work by myself she explained. Now I am
able to do more work and provide for my childs educational
needs with the income I generate. On sharing her plans
for the future she said at present I seal the packets with
a candle. My plan is to purchase a sealer machine very
soon. I also want to purchase more equipment so that I can
expand this business. For now, my aim is to ensure that my
daughter passes her Ordinary Level exams. So I focus on
doing all I can to help her she added.
Received
SLR 20,000
Received
SLR 10,000
Percentages of livelihood funding to various manufacturing industries
MEDIA AND
COMMUNICATIONS
Relaunch of Website Publications Social Media Presence News
SPECIAL INITIATIVES
Knowledge Sharing Outsourced Training Career Development
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SPECIAL INITIATIVES
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
TRAINING
At the ADT the staff appraisals lead to the Department
to identify staff career enhancement needs. Training
is provided to bridge the gap between their current
knowledge status and their desired level of knowledge
attainment through 01 - 02 day training programmes or
longer term programmes that can last up to 02 years.
BUILDING
a. Workshops
A SUSTAINABLE
In the year 2014, 20 staff members attended workshops

on Writing and Presentation Skills and Business English, IT
Development, Graphic Design, Office Management and
Labour Laws and Project Management.
ORGANISATION
b. Long-Term Career
Development
he Human Resource Department (HR)

of the Alliance Development Trust lays
emphasis on creating an environment
that is safe and comfortable as well
The staff of the ADT take part in an experiential learning programme
as stimulating to work in. The ADT is aware of the

importance of motivation towards sustaining the
development of the organisation. The 82 strong staff
members comprise of a cross section of all walks of
life and the HR Department aims at building company
cohesion through its training and motivational
programmes.
KNOWLEDGE SHARING
The ADT facilitates a platform for knowledge
sharing of information, skills and expertise for
its staff. This forum permits the coming together
of an otherwise busy and departmentalised
staff group and also enables staff to feel
appreciated within the organisation for their
talents and skills.
In the year 2014, the Department
included a mix of knowledge sharing and outsourced

workshops to keep the company
morale high.
The Department also created career development

opportunities, providing the chance for many members
of its staff to fulfil their development aspirations.
In the year 2014, the Department actively

facilitated a knowledge sharing platform
where four staff members volunteered to share
their knowledge in areas of their specialisation
on the topics of Managing Expenses Vs. Income,
Increasing Efficiency through information
Technology, Visual Storytelling and Creativity
and Out of the Box Thinking.
The sessions were conducted on the last
Friday of the month between 3-5 p.m. The
presentations were received enthusiastically.
The presenters used multi-media of video
clips, practical exercises and powerpoint
The Department also supported staff members

in achieving their long-term career development
aspirations by sponsoring staff members in their
respective fields. These courses lasted from 03 months
to 02 years. This support is also offered to those who
wish to sit for their bachelors and masters degrees.
Twenty staff members were supported in the fields of
an English Course in Writing and Verbal Communications,
a course in Labour Laws, on Logistics and Procurement, an
English course from the British Council and a diploma in
Accountancy from the Aquinas College.
presentations to communicate the topics effectively.

An evaluation form was distributed to each participant
to express their feedback. This training taught us the
importance of being creative in our day to day dealings and
in maximising resources; also tips were given to improve
our creative thinking in both office and personal life said
a participant about the training on Creativity and Out of
the Box Thinking.
OUTSOURCED TRAINING
An outsourced training programme was held in the
ADT auditorium. This programme was an experiential
learning programme conducted by Robin Paul and his
team of experts from Breakthrough Training India. It was
an afternoon filled with fun, laughter and much friendly
competition as the staff was divided into groups and
given various practical exercises to complete within a set
time period. The staff enjoyed the sessions and found it
a welcome opportunity to get together.
APPRECIATIONS
We are grateful to our partners, donors and friends who have sacrificially given
of their resources and time generously. Without their support all our efforts
recorded in this report would not have been possible.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Godfrey Yogarajah
SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM
Godfrey Yogarajah
Mahesh De Mel
Roshini Wickremesinhe
We thank the Government authorities and other stakeholders who have

cooperated with us and given their fullest support to carry out our programmes.
We are indebted to our staff that have tirelessly, with great dedication, passion
and commitment created immeasurable impact on the communities we serve.
SENIOR MANAGERS
Paul Navamani
Rajeeva D. Godagedara
S. T. Thoumiyan
Raghu Balachandran
We also thank the board of directors and appreciate the time and guidance
given to us.
REGIONAL TEAM LEADERS

Icons used in the cover page CC Michele Pinna, Ealancheliyan S, Travis Unis, Loic Alejandro, Bruno Gatjens Gonzalez. Pavel N and Dan Hetteix
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Manager North/ Team Leader Vavuniya

Team Leader Jaffna

Project Officer Mannar

Manager Batticaloa/ Trincomalee
Coordinator Anuradhapura

Coordinator Gampola

Coordinator South

Abraham Ragulan
Sivalingam Thirukkumaran
Julius Coonge
Ebenezer Dharshan
Brian De Silva
Thilak Ariyawansa
Gurusingha Arachchige Manel

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Annual Report 2014 I Alliance Development Trust I1

2I Alliance Development Trust I Annual Report 2014

Annual Report 2014 I Alliance Development Trust I3

Uniting and Empowering Communities by Dynamic Action for

Message from the

About the ADT

Annual Report 2014 I Alliance Development Trust I5

MESSAGE FROM THE

The needs in 2014 were great and the resources as always

And so, as we move forward into 2015, we go ahead

6I Alliance Development Trust I Annual Report 2014

Annual Report 2014 I Alliance Development Trust I7

Programmes. Projects implemented under the Community

Development sector addresses needs and concerns in

the areas of Livelihood, Children, Water and Sanitation

based programmes and social welfare

programmes. The ADT works towards

While the ADTs main office is located in Colombo, it effectively

victims of war and natural disasters,

reaches out to communities across Sri Lanka,through its regional

socially marginalised groups such

offices in Jaffna, Vavuniya, Trincomalee Batticaloa and Galle

as those living with HIV and AIDS

and its satellite offices in Mannar, Anuradhapura, Chilaw and

or Leprosy and other vulnerable

The ADT is committed to international standards of good

The ADT implements its projects

recognised standards such as the Sphere Standards, People in Aid,

World Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (WANGO)

International Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) and

Development Programme and other

Australian Council for International Development (ACFID).

10I Alliance Development Trust I Annual Report 2014

Annual Report 2014 I Alliance Development Trust I11

he Alliance Development Trust (ADT) has reached

The ADT conducted its National Programmes

Sexual and Reproductive Health

14I Alliance Development Trust I Annual Report 2014

During the year in review, the ADT worked in a total of

Varani Iyattalai J344 Jaffna

Annual Report 2014 I Alliance Development Trust I15

16I Alliance Development Trust I Annual Report 2014

Annual Report 2014 I Alliance Development Trust I17

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - VARANI IYATTALAI J344

- VARANI IYATTALAI J344

Households with monthly

*Data gathered by the ADT at the end of 2013

Ranjithamalar packaging her products

Ranjithamalar Tastes the Flavour of Happiness

how she was able to purchase a stock of chillies from her

PROJECTS CONDUCTED IN 2014

VARANI IYATTALAI J344

Change Makers Club benefitting

Annual Report 2014 I Alliance Development Trust I19

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - ULAVANOOR

Number of wage labourers:

*Data gathered by the ADT at the end of 2013

Navaleshwari leads a Community Development training

Bridging the Gap between the Community

20I Alliance Development Trust I Annual Report 2014

The trainings they received helped them understand

PROJECTS CONDUCTED IN 2014

World Childrens Day celebration

The villagers of Ulavanoor lived through years of displacement,