About Pathahewaheta and the cyclone
Pathahewaheta is a hillside village in Moragolla near Talatuoya in the Kandy District of Sri Lanka. It is a close-knit community where most people live from farming, small businesses, and daily wage work.
Life before the cyclone
Before the disaster, life in Pathahewaheta was simple but stable. Children walked to nearby schools and preschools, elders gathered at temples and community centers, and farmers worked on the surrounding hills and fields. With limited resources and modest incomes, families slowly built their homes over decades, one brick at a time.
The night everything changed
On 27 December 2025, a powerful cyclone brought heavy rain and dangerous winds to the village. As the ground became saturated, the hills around Pathahewaheta began to give way.
Throughout the night, landslides tore through homes, roads, and fields. Walls collapsed, roofs were torn away, and some houses were buried under mud. In several places, entire access roads were cut off, leaving families trapped or forced to evacuate in the dark.
By the time the rain stopped, more than 110 landslides had been recorded in and around the village. Thousands of homes were damaged, and many families lost nearly everything they owned.
The human cost
Beyond damage to buildings and roads, the cyclone took lives. At least 50 people from the village and surrounding areas are known to have died. Many others are grieving loved ones, searching through the remains of their homes, or trying to comfort children who do not yet fully understand what has happened.
Where things stand now
Some families can still live in partially damaged homes, but many houses are now unsafe. More than 1,000 families are considered homeless and are staying in government safe houses or with relatives in less affected areas.
Electricity and water have not yet been fully restored in all parts of the village. Several roads remain blocked by landslides, which limits access for aid, medicine, and daily supplies. Rebuilding will take time, skilled labor, and resources that most families simply do not have on their own.
This is why outside support matters. It gives the village a chance not just to survive the disaster, but to recover with dignity.
About Thambapanniye API Charity Trust
The local coordination and on-ground distribution of this fund is handled by Thambapanniye API Charity Trust, a community-focused charity based in Sri Lanka. The trust works with vulnerable families, supports education and welfare, and responds to emergencies affecting local communities.
For this specific disaster, Thambapanniye API Charity Trust:
- Works with village representatives and officials to verify damage and priority needs
- Coordinates the distribution of emergency supplies and financial support to affected families
- Helps plan and oversee housing, infrastructure, and community rebuilding projects
- Maintains records for accountability and reporting to partners and supporters
The village-level coordination for Pathahewaheta is led by Jude Fernando, who works closely with Thambapanniye API Charity Trust to ensure funds reach the people who need them most.
How this fund is organized
International donations collected through this website are processed securely in USD via Stripe and then transferred in batches to Thambapanniye API Charity Trust in Sri Lanka. Using an online payment processor makes it easier for friends, families, and supporters around the world to contribute quickly.
Funds move through:
- Stripe (online payment processing in USD)
- An organizing account that receives donations and prepares transfers
- Thambapanniye API Charity Trust, which manages village-level deployment
Unavoidable payment processor and banking fees may apply when donations are made or transferred. No additional percentage-based fundraising fee is added by the organizers.
The goal of this structure is to combine fast, secure international giving with trusted, local delivery on the ground. Donors can request more detailed information about fund flow and reporting through the contact page.
Why your support matters
For families in Pathahewaheta, this is not just a news event. It is their home, their history, and their future. External support helps fill the gap between what government and local resources can cover and what is truly needed for a full recovery.
By donating, sharing the campaign, or helping connect partners, you are directly supporting a village that is trying to stand back up after being knocked down in a single night.