Cyclone Ditwah Disaster Relife Initiative For School Children
Cyclonic Storm Ditwah struck Sri Lanka on 28 November 2025, causing widespread devastation across the country. Over 1.4 million people were affected, and nearly 233,000 individuals were displaced as a result of severe flooding and landslides. The most severely impacted districts included Kandy, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Kurunegala, and Matale, where significant damage to homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods was reported. (Source : World Health Organization’s website)
In response, Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP)Sri Lanka, in collaboration with Balangoda Plantations PLC (BPL) and Bata Footwear Retail Company, launched a welfare initiative in Badulla to support affected plantation communities.
The program provided school shoes to children of estate workers, ensuring their continued education despite the disaster. The initiative highlights the partners’ commitment to community well-being and their efforts to bring relief and encouragement to affected families.
Balangoda Plantations PLC (BPL), in partnership with the Ethical Tea Partnership, carried out a community welfare initiative on 06 March 2026 to support plantation families affected by the recent Dithwa cyclone.
As part of this program, 1,500 pairs of school shoes together with two pairs of socks per student were distributed to 1,500 schoolchildren whose parents are employed at Glen Alpin Estate, Ury Estate, and Spring Valley Estate. The initiative, valued at approximately LKR 4.6 million, was generously sponsored by the Ethical Tea Partnership in collaboration with Balangoda Plantations PLC.
The event was attended by key representatives from both organizations, including Mr. Dimuthu Wakunagoda, Chief Executive Officer of Balangoda Plantations PLC; Mr. Rohith Peiris, Country Manager of Ethical Tea Partnership; and Ms. Yoga Perera, Programme Manager of Ethical Tea Partnership.
This initiative was undertaken with the objective of supporting the education and well-being of children from Dithwa cyclone -affected plantation families. For many of these families, the difficult environmental conditions have created additional financial challenges. By providing essential school items such as shoes and socks, the program helped ease the burden on parents while enabling students to continue their education with improved comfort, confidence, and dignity.
This meaningful initiative reflects the strong partnership between Balangoda Plantations PLC and the Ethical Tea Partnership in working towards the upliftment of plantation communities. It further demonstrates the organizations’ continued commitment to social responsibility, sustainable community development, and the long-term well-being of families within the plantation sector.
