Field Observation: Forgotten Communities in Kuchchaveli

Location: Kallarawa & Sagarapura Villages, Kuchchaveli DS Division, Trincomalee District
Beneficiaries: 115 families in Kallarawa, 52 families in Sagarapura

Kallarawa Village – Living in Extreme Hardship
Education Crisis:
Despite having 115 families, only 7 children attend the local school taught by 3 dedicated teachers.
Eleven other students travel daily to Pulmude School without reliable transport or shelter—even lacking a basic bus halt.
They walk long distances, risking elephant encounters and weather conditions.
Documentation & Citizenship Rights:
Several families lack national identity cards, and as a result, 10 citizens couldn’t vote in the last presidential election.
The government fee of LKR 1,120 for an ID is unaffordable for these families.
Land & Housing Insecurity:
The majority of families do not own land—creating long-term insecurity and limiting access to housing and development programs.
Our Call:
These children have the right to education, and every family deserves legal identity and land ownership.
It is time for urgent state intervention and social responsibility from all of us.

Sagarapura Village – Denied the Right to Water
52 families depend on fishing and daily labor, but live in poor conditions.
Water Access Crisis:
Despite a large, covered well and water tank, the people cannot access safe drinking water due to lack of proper facilities.
No Land Ownership:
Only 2-3 families hold deeds. The rest live on land without formal titles.
Basic Human Rights Denied:
The right to clean water is being violated.
Who is responsible when communities are denied their basic needs?

A National Question of Accountability
“Why have these communities—existing for decades—never received the attention of political leaders and state officials?”
“Who is accountable for 70+ years of neglect?”
These stories from Kallarawa and Sagarapura are not isolated. There are likely many more such villages across all 9 provinces and 25 districts.