Appe Lanka restores Naranthalu tank in Poonakary

Appe Lanka Foundation has successfully completed the restoration of the historic Naranthalu village tank in Poonakary, marking a major milestone in its flagship initiative, “Let Them Bloom, Give Them Water.” 

The project restores not only a vital water source, but also hope, dignity, and long-term opportunity for a community emerging from decades of hardship.

Appe Lanka has been working continuously in Poonakary since 2018, building deep-rooted relationships with communities, schools, and local leaders. It is a home-grown, home-financed Sri Lankan organisation, driven by the belief that sustainable change is most powerful when it is locally led, community-owned, and built to last.

For centuries, village tanks have been the lifeblood of Sri Lanka’s rural communities—sustaining agriculture, replenishing groundwater, and anchoring village life. In Poonakary, years of conflict, neglect, and climate stress had left many such reservoirs silted and unusable, forcing families into seasonal unemployment, food insecurity, and migration in search of daily wage labour.

The restored Naranthalu tank is expected to replenish agricultural lands across the surrounding villages, benefiting a large number of farming families who depend on seasonal cultivation. Commenting on the restoration, Shaan Corea, Founder of Appe Lanka said, “This tank is more than a water source. It is the backbone of livelihoods, dignity, and stability for this community. Restoring Naranthalu was about giving people the ability to work their land, feed their families, and plan for the future with confidence. When water is restored, everything else follows.”