The Resilience of K. E. Ananda Weerakoon: From Hardship to Hope
K. E. Ananda Weerakoon, born in 1958 in Nochchiyagama, Anuradhapura, has lived a life full of hard work and community service. After completing his education up to the 8th grade, he followed in his family’s footsteps to become a farmer growing paddy, chilies, and peanuts on nearly 2 acres of land. The success in work due to his dedication allowed him to build his own home on inherited land and earn a good living.
At the age of 25, Ananda married and had a daughter. However, the marriage did not last, and after a divorce, Ananda remarried. Along with his farming, Ananda also started a dried fish business, traveling to Puttalam to bring fish and sell it in Nochchiyagama. His business flourished, and he was able to earn around LKR 70,000 in net profit each month. Ananda was also an active leader in his community, involved in various associations, including the funeral society, Buddhist society, and welfare society, where he often held leadership positions
Amid all his successes, in late 2022, Ananda’s life took a sudden turn, and it wasn’t for good. He began experiencing severe pain in his legs, which limited his ability to travel and conduct his business. By 2023, his condition worsened, and one day, after lunch, he found himself unable to stand. His legs had become completely immobile.
Ananda was hospitalized, where doctors diagnosed him with incurable arthritis. The cartilage in his knees had worn out, leaving him disabled. As time passed, his condition worsened, affecting not only his legs but also his arms, leaving him unable to work or move independently. His once-thriving business came to a halt, and he found himself relying on the small LKR 2,500 “Aswesuma” allowance, struggling to make ends meet.
When the Grama Niladhari introduced Ananda to the Janathakshan project team, funded by Christian Blind Mission (CBM), he was in a state of deep depression, bedridden and deformed by his illness. The team immediately recognized his potential and willingness to rebuild his life, despite his physical limitations. After being examined by Janathakshan’s Disability Expert, Ananda received guidance on how to manage his condition and regain a sense of purpose.
Ananda expressed interest in starting a new livelihood through home gardening and poultry farming, and his wife, ever supportive, agreed to help him in any way that hshe could. Through the project’s interventions, Ananda was provided with a chicken coop, chicks, and the necessary facilities to cultivate betel. His community, recognizing all the service he had provided over the years, rallied around him to help establish his new livelihood. With their support, Ananda began cultivating betel and raising chickens on his 0.5-acre home garden.
The Janathakshan team also addressed the physical challenges Ananda faced at home. His toilet, located far from the house, was difficult for him to reach due to his mobility issues. To resolve this, the project team constructed a ramp with rails, allowing Ananda to access the toilet independently. They also installed a door on the toilet, providing much-needed privacy for both Ananda and his wife.
With a ramp in place, Ananda no longer feared falling while trying to reach the toilet. He now moves around his home with the aid of crutches and the support of the ramp’s rails. This newfound mobility has allowed him to regain his independence and confidence.
Since starting his small farm, Ananda has found comfort and joy in caring for his chickens. Spending time with them has not only reduced his frustration but also provided him with nutritious food, as his family now enjoy fresh eggs daily. His health and outlook have visibly improved since Janathakshan first met him. He now sits and moves around his home garden, tending to his crops and chickens with the help of crutches
Ananda has big plans for the future. He hopes to expand his betel cultivation, knowing there is a strong market for it in his village, and he aims to cultivate pepper as well. In addition, he plans to enlarge his chicken coop and raise more chickens to further grow his farm. With his wife by his side, supporting him in all his endeavors, Ananda is regaining his role as the provider for his family
Reflecting on his journey, Ananda’s wife shared, “Years ago, he was always involved in serving the community. After his illness, he didn’t even want to come outside because he couldn’t move. He was mostly upset. But now, he’s doing well and living happily again.”
Ananda himself acknowledges the profound impact of the project’s interventions on his life. “I was frustrated and fed up. But the Janathakshan officers gave me hope again and support. Now I can manage my work and earnings without any outside help.”
Thanks to sustainable interventions from Janathakshan, Ananda’s life has been transformed. He has regained a sense of purpose and independence, and he is once again able to support his wife with his earnings, while looking forward to a brighter, more hopeful future.
