Mr. Sarath Chandra Pathma Mallawarachchi

Work

As Deputy District Director at the SEWA Lanka Foundation, Mr. Sarath Chandra Pathma Mallawarachchi serves as a catalyst for community development in rural Sri Lanka. Through his organization, Mr. Mallawarachchi implements development activities to improve the living conditions of small scale farmers in the “dry zone” in the north central part of the island.  He gives workshops on agriculture techniques, and also helps form community based organizations such as fisheries cooperatives, savings and credit societies, water sanitation projects and disaster rehabilitation planning.

Since Mr. Mallawarachchi works closely with farmers, he is especially eager to learn more about organic farming techniques. Chemical fertilizers are very expensive in Sri Lanka and natural cultivating methods will provide farmers with a better income while simultaneously improving soil conditions.  Mr. Mallawarachchi sees sustainable farming as the best hoper to uplift his community and provide food security for the next generation.

Sending

Organization

The SEWA Lanka Foundation began in 1993 as a developmental NGO with a mandate to address the needs of the most vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka. As conflict arose in the north and east, it provided immediate humanitarian assistance in these areas. When conditions improved, it developed strategies to address the long-term needs of these communities. It has become an internationally recognized organization for its work in development and has built a team of professional men and women, including Sinhalese and Tamil, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian - working together to create, implement and maintain programs to assist communities to grow strong and healthy.