Helping Applewatte slum dwellers to

improve their living conditions

by Latheef Farook-April 9, 2015

Applewatte, meaning Apple garden, is

located in the heart of Sri Lankas Colombo, proudly described in the recent past as
the emerging Miracle of Asia. Though called Applewatta, apple is the only thing one
doesnt see there. Instead all what you see there is one of the worst slums where
poverty stricken people live in appalling conditions. It is a shanty of mixed population
with the majority being Muslims.
Their misery never attracted the attention of politicians and even municipal councillors
who visit them only during election times.

Even the people there lost all confidence in all and went on with their day to struggle to
eke out some existence to ensure their survival.
A group of well wishers organised a shramadana program on 29 March 2015 to help
improve their living conditions. Notable among those who took the initiatives were
well known entrepreneur Fouzul Hameed of HAMEEDIs, Reza Alaudeen of Serendib
Educational Foundation and well known activist Hilru Siddeeque.Several others
participated and donated cash to help ensure the success of this project.
The single most important achievement is the awareness created on having a clean
neighborhood from Masjid Bilal to the applewatte inhabitants.
Explaining the project activist Hilru Siddeeque who took part in the cleanup project had
this to state;
Applewatte is one of the slums of Colombo in the Maligawatte Police division. It is
comprised of 728 Muslim, 80 Hindu, 20 Buddhist and 20 Christian families
approximately.
There are four schools -Dar-us Salam, Hema Balika, Srimath Baron Jayathilake and
an International school. Within this area there are four Masjids, the main one being
Bilal Masjid. This Masjid was controlled by members of the under-world for three
consecutive periods, after the regime changed. At present this masjid is under a good
leadership.

The Serendib School Development

Foundation (SSDF) entered this community on the 17th of March 2015 and was
shocked to witness the people living in such Filthy and unhealthy environment. The
housed were in poor condition with leaking roofs, broken toilets and some shacks
without proper ventilation looked worse than cattle sheds. In some houses dirty water
was oozing out of the floor and dirty drains passed through them.

I was invited to participate in the second meeting of the SSDF to make a rescue
plan. The outcome was nothing but an immediate cleaning up operation through a
Shramadana. First step was to form the Masjid Bilal Foundation with a local Leader
and six section Leaders and six outside volunteers including myself.
The date for the Shramadana cleaning up operation was fixed for 29th March.
Targets were set to mobilize 300 outside Volunteers, 1000 Garbage bags, 300 pairs of
Gloves, 10 Wheelbarrows, 20 Shovels and 30 Rakes and Brooms. We immediately
announced through social media of the plan. Pledges started coming in cash and in
kind by various organizations and individuals. We thought of providing lunch for the
Volunteers and 500 lunch packets were ordered. A donor responded for 250 from
Australia- Masha Allah. In fact lunch money was oversubscribed leaving extra funds in
the Baitulmal. The Dehiwala - Galkissa Baitulmal handled the fund for this part of the
preparation. Over 200 Volunteers had registered and many of them were from various
organizations.
As planned work began on March 29.
Among the organizations we came across SSDF, NSC, SFRD, Muslim AID, AMYS,
YMMA, AUSMA, COSLAM, YFH, CIS, SLISM and of course WAMY, DGBM and
individual donors were included. The Shramadana went on from 9.30 until
12.30 noon. About 80% of the Cleaning up Operation completed at the end of the
event. It was a successful operation to some extent with a few short comings. Lesson
learnt were noted to improve the future plans.
Applewatte is a lost community. People live here without land deeds. There is
coexistence in this mixed community. They have built their homes according to their
ability and capacity without proper planning in any shape with tolerance from
neighborhood. There are five public toilets and one is not functional, while the other
four are not in good condition either. They need repair. There are two public bathing
places. Taking a bath here is a daily battle.
The people are a necessary component of the community in the near vicinity. They
supply all kinds of labour for all the odd jobs, some are running small businesses like
selling home-made items and some do pavement business. The Colombo
businessmen depend on these slum dwellers.

The Education level is very poor. Many are broken families

that have resulted in some 40 Orphans, 50 Street Children, 30 invalid, 35 Paralyzed,
and about 15% to 20% of the children are of average standard
Poverty leads to crime. This is what happens here. Loan and interest burdens,
Unemployment, Gambling, Betting, Drug trafficking and prostitution are
common. About 15% of the women and 10% of the men have gone abroad for odd
jobs and their children are lost in life.
A second meeting was held on 2 April 2015 to evaluate the progress made and for
future planning.
Minister of Disaster Management A.H.M. Fowzi and his Disaster Management Team
attended the 29 March and on 2 April. We also got the Environmental Police and CMC
for the second meeting to make an emergency plan to tackle many burning issues.
The best thing now is to give the ownership of this project to DMC and others become
their volunteers. Crimes take place in spite of police presence. With DMC
involvement we expect to see some improvements.
Another recent development after our last meeting was, engaging 60 children between
10 and 15 years of age to be trained as Junior Volunteers. We need to train all
volunteers with a future plan. These Volunteers can be connected to DMC if they
agree to a volunteer concept to build DMC. We need to hold discussion with DMC to
train their staff and out siders with input from DMC. We should Push DMC and CMC to
deal with major infra-structure such as roads, toilets, shelter and water and proper
garbage collection and disposal.
The Sri Lanka Nutrition Society has shown interest to make recommendation after
studying the Nutritional level among mothers and children. Another development is
that doctors looked into this aspect on the Shramadana day on 29 March.

Urgent needs from Zakath and Sadaqa are identified. About 100 houses need roof
repair. About 60 to 80 households need kitchen utensils and many children need
clothes and books. An estimated 25% of the children are malnourished, because they
cannot afford three quality meals a day. Approximately 15% of the people are beggars.
About 35% are single parent family. We like to draw the attention of Zakath Payers.
Surprisingly about 50% of the people have TV, 90% have radios and almost 95% have
mobile phones to keep them occupied and away from mental agony.
Masjid Bilal is a great center for people. About 2,000 people attend Jummah prayers
from Applewatte and the surrounding areas. Usually all three floors get filled up and
part of the road also full. Contributions are collected from Applewatte for Masjid
maintenance. From this an income of 40,000.00 derived monthly. Jummah collection
varies from 2000 to 3500. Two of the staff is paid by two individual donors at 17,000
and 15,000 respectively.
On 4 April a team from All Ceylon Baithul Fund (CBF) toured in Appelwatte and held a
meeting with Masjid Bilal Foundation. They proposed to do some rehabilitation
activities. They set a target to help 100 children in their education. This is a good
move.
We appreciate if any organization comes to visit Appelwatte and do even a little
contribution in their own capacity to uplift slum lif , concludes Hilru Siddeeque.
Posted by Thavam