On Oct.28, a handover ceremony was conducted for a water supply project that will benefit an estimated 4,000 to 8,000 residents in Puttalam, Sri Lanka. The project provided the necessary labor, pipe, meters and faucets to link 427 households to the city water line. The recipient families were living below the country’s poverty level and unable to purchase a connection for themselves. The easy access now eliminates the hardship of walking three to five kilometers for clean water. U.S. Government representatives in attendance included Teresa Tellechea, political affairs officer for the U.S. Embassy; Mike Reed and Joe Parfitt of the Civil Military Support Element; and Mike MacMillan (left in picture), project manager for the Alaska District. Also present were K.A. Baiz, mayor of Puttalam, numerous local officials and about 200 beneficiaries from the community.