The Plural Action for Inclusion, Reconciliation, and Social Justice (PAIRS) project funded by Misereor, co-funded by CAFOD and implemented by NPC with a wide network of partners, responded to Ditwah affected communities across several districts. From distributing essential items to elders' homes and children with autism to restoring documentation for families and rebuilding a school library, the actualisation activities and relief efforts demonstrated the project's tangible impact on the ground.
In the aftermath of Ditwah, the Welcome Village Elders' Home in Kurunegala became the site of a tragedy when 12 residents lost their lives because they could not escape. Responding to a request from the Kurunegala District Secretary NPC, in collaboration with the Kurunegala District Secretariat, Kurunegala DIRC and the Kurunegala Human Rights Organization, carried out a relief distribution at the home with funding from Misereor. Essential items including steel cupboards, plastic tables and chairs and rice cookers were distributed based on the elders' needs.
For the students and teachers of Kumbaloluwa Vidyalaya in Kotmale, access to safe drinking water was cut off when the cyclone damaged the school's water system, leaving 200 students and 23 teachers without clean water.
Following a request from the Nuwara Eliya District Secretary NPC, in collaboration with the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat, Kotmale Divisional Secretariat, Nuwara Eliya DIRC and the Cultural and Environment Society, repaired and restored the water system so the school could function with safe drinking water.
For the Malaiyaha community in Holyrood Estate, Thalawakelle, life was lived in the shadows of official neglect. There were no house numbers, no proper addresses and no reliable postal service. Essential documents and government services remained out of reach.
A field visit in July last year brought civil society representatives to the community. Their experiences were gathered and a short documentary captured the daily struggle. Discussions followed with postal officials and estate authorities, leading to a multi-stakeholder meeting where around 75 participants government officials, religious leaders and community members came together to find solutions.
The engagement produced real change. Government officials became more responsive. During the voter roll revision, they took a historic step by assigning numbers to line rooms and updating the voter registry with proper addresses. With house numbers and updated addresses, the community could access postal services, government documentation and essential services. Voter registration gave them a voice in governance. Trust between the community and local authorities had grown.
Religious leaders from all major faiths, including those not yet part of the DIRC network, came together in Monaragala to strengthen interfaith collaboration. The meeting, organized in partnership with the Community Resource Protection Centre and Future in Our Hand Development Fund, brought together 35 religious leaders from the Monaragala and Badulla districts.
"This programme is very important. I pledge to attend Hindu festivals if invited. I urge collective action for district development," said A.G Nishantha, District Secretary, Monaragala.
The Sri Chethiyarama Temple was never meant to be a shelter but when Ditwah devastated the Wellambada area of Gampola, the temple opened its doors to more than 200 displaced people for nearly two months. Located at the heart of an estate community, it became a shared sanctuary for both Sinhala and Malaiyaha Tamil communities.
Even after the camp closed, many families were unable to return home due to land instability and safety concerns. Recognising the urgent needs, the Udunuwara Divisional Secretariat identified 70 of the most vulnerable families. NPC, in collaboration with the Udunuwara Divisional Secretariat and the Kandy DIRC, distributed dry ration packs to Malaiyaha Tamil and Sinhala households.
In the aftermath of the Ditwah disaster, families in the Dehiowita Divisional Secretariat area faced not only the destruction of their homes but also the loss birth certificates, national identity cards and other papers that prove who they are. Without these, accessing government services, relief and even daily necessities became impossible. Women community and political leaders stepped forward, communicating to authorities the challenges faced by affected families. NPC, in partnership with the People Development Foundation Kegalle, the Dehiowita Divisional Secretariat and the Kegalle DIRC, organized a mobile clinic in Thalduwa.
The event was led by women leaders and attended by Ms. Madushani de Silva, Acting Divisional Secretary, along with 20 government officers representing relevant service sectors. Over 250 community members participated, benefitting from a wide range of services.
"The primary objective of this initiative was to restore access to essential personal documentation lost due to the disaster. This is the first time such documents have been provided free of charge, reflecting a people-centred approach to service delivery," said Ms. de Silva.
The initiative not only restored critical documentation but also strengthened trust between communities and public institutions, highlighting the impact of women's leadership in identifying community needs and driving inclusive, responsive solutions.
When Ditwah swept through Polonnaruwa, the floodwaters did not spare Al-Mina Maha Vidyalaya in Manikkampitiya. Water entered the school library, destroying a large number of books. In six months, the library was renovated but had no books or cupboards. Responding to a request from the Polonnaruwa District Secretary NPC, in collaboration with the Polonnaruwa District Secretariat, Polonnaruwa Zonal Education Department and the Polonnaruwa DIRC, donated library books and office cupboards with Misereor funding.
"Due to Ditwah, books in our school library were destroyed, affecting students' learning activities. On behalf of our school, I express my gratitude to NPC and the Polonnaruwa District Secretariat for providing necessary books and office cupboards," said K. Kaleelurrahman, Principal of Al-Mina Maha Vidyalaya.