PADAVIYA – In a profound demonstration of solidarity and commitment to the most vulnerable, Heritage Expediciones Ltd. has generously funded the installation of three life-giving tube wells for struggling families in Padaviya, located in the North Central Province.

This transformative initiative was coordinated on the ground by the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and its Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Sameera Fonseka, OMI. True to the charism of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, this effort reflects our core identity as missionary men dedicated to serving the poor and the most abandoned.

Responding to an Urgent Crisis

The community of Padaviya faces severe and compounding daily challenges. The local agrarian economy, built primarily on paddy and chena farming, is constantly threatened by water scarcity. Compounding this struggle is the rapid spread of chronic kidney disease, which has emerged as a devastating public health crisis in the region.

Recognizing these dire circumstances, Heritage Expediciones committed the critical funds necessary to deliver a sustainable, reachable solution directly to the families most affected by this crisis.

The Oblate Ministry of Presence

Guided by a clear pastoral vision to literally quench the thirst of his people, Fr. Sameera personally identified the beneficiary families and coordinated the logistical efforts from within the community he serves. It was his intimate pastoral knowledge and the deep-rooted trust the Church has cultivated within Padaviya that ensured these funds were directed precisely where they were needed most.

During the recent devastation of the Ditwah cyclone, the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help opened its doors as a refuge for the entire village. Regardless of faith or background, the community turned to the Church as a sanctuary—a true tree of life. That same enduring spirit of solidarity made the parish the natural and trusted partner for this water initiative.

A Transformative Impact

The newly funded tube wells have been allocated to maximize their life-saving potential:

• Community Access: One well was installed at the St. Eugene de Mazenod Church in Kawantissapura (Kavantissa Pura).
• Targeted Family Support: The remaining two wells were donated to highly vulnerable individual families, personally recommended by Fr. Sameera, with a special focus on primary beneficiaries who were victims of the recent cyclone.

For these families, the result is nothing short of transformative. Reliable access to a continuous water supply restores their ability to cultivate their lands, sustain their daily livelihoods, and meet the most fundamental of human needs. The OMI Colombo Province extends its deepest gratitude to Heritage Expediciones for making this possible, working hand-in-hand with Fr. Sameera to bring lasting hope to the people of Padaviya.