Academics and students of the Colombo University are putting theory into practice to uplift living standards of people living in the North Western Province. Academics and students of the Colombo University are putting theory into practice to uplift living standards of people living in the North Western Province. They are helping villagers turn comparative advantages into a steady source of income.
This is a familiar sight in Weehenkattuwa, a little village in Mahakambukkadawala of Puttlam district.
The village has a high density of kohomba trees.
During the season of August to October, villagers pick seeds to extract oil.
Processing starts during the off-season in this little plant in their village.
During school holidays, children take the lead in seed collection.
The abundance of kohomba trees in the area is a comparative advantage for the village and now a source of income for the villagers.
Academics from the Colombo University led by Prof. Lakshman Dissanayaka and his students taught these villagers how to turn this natural resource into a source of income.
These projects, funded by JICA and