Bogawantalawa Tea Estates Limited and World Vision sign partnership agreement

Bogawantalawa Tea Estates Limited and World Vision Lanka (WVL) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to implement development activities in selected estates belonging to Bogawantalawa Tea Estates Ltd in the Nuwara Eliya District.

The agreement will pave the way for the implementation of various water, sanitation and hygiene programmes, as well as capacity building and empowerment programmes for estate communities to enhance their living standards.

World Vision Lanka will also work in partnership with the Pradeshiya Sabhas and Plantation Management of the respective areas in the implementation of this project, and views this partnership with Bogawantalawa Plantations as an incentive to bring in further assistance to improve the living standards of the communities living in this region.

The project will foster intentional partnerships between government, plantation management, and community organisations; build capacity of the respective stakeholders; and especially engage women and other vulnerable community members in programme decision-making to promote good governance, address the root causes of conflict, and lay the foundation for peaceful coexistence.

Recent surveys have indicated that the district of Nuwara Eliya, is among the most disadvantaged districts in Sri Lanka with significant levels of poverty and poor health and nutrition statistics. Although home to abundant water sources, its water and sanitation access is the lowest in the country.

World Vision Lanka has a long history of working in the Plantation Sector. Its Ambagamuwa Area Development Programme (ADP) commenced nearly 15 years ago in 1997. The organisation has expanded its programmes to Nuwara Eliya, Bogawantalawa , Pathana and Walapane in recent years.