Anpuneri has performed needs assessments for Panchenai by interviewing the village community, government officials and well-wishers. The interviewees were representative of the village interest to identify their needs, priorities and means of achieving the needs with total participation of the community and other stakeholders. The needs ssessments identified the gaps between current conditions and desired conditions of the community. The needs were identified in areas including economy, healthcare, education and infrastructure developments.

The following people were interviewed:
1. Mrs. P. S. M. Charles, District Secretary, Batticaloa
2. Dr. G. Navaratnarajah, Regional Director of Health Services, Batticaloa
3. Mr. S. Rajbabu, Assistant Divisional Secretary, Manmunai West
4. Mr. T. Nirmalraj, Assistant Director of Planning, Manmunai West
5. Mr. K. Pratheepan, Provincial Irrigation Engineer, Eastern Province
6. Mr. P. Sabaretnam, Grama Sevagar, Panchenai
7. Mr. Uthayakumar, Economic Development Officer, Panchenai
8. Mr. Neotharan, Former Engineer from an NGO
9. Mr. S. Kirubanantharajah, Village Development Officer, Panchenai
10. Mr. S. Jamunakaran, Principal, Panchenai Pari Vidyalayam, Panchenai
11. Mr. A. Mohan, President, Sports Club, Panchenai
12. Ms. R. Gopika, Teacher, Preschool, Panchenai
13. Mr. I. Baskaran, Farmers’ Organization, Othiyankuda Aaru
14. Mr. S. Thuraiyappa, Temple Administration, Panchenai
15. Mr. T. Thirunayagam, Panchenai Seniors’ Society
16. Mr. K. Velayutham, Panchenai Fishermen’s Society
17. Ms. Baskaran Thanaluxmy, Secretary, Panchenai Women Development Society
18. Mr. T. Thirunayagam, Secretary, Panchenai Milk Board Society
19. Mr. N. Sivalingam, Panchenai Funeral Assistance Society

Needs identified by the interviewees were summarized as follows:
Education
1.Salary for temporary teachers
2.Drinking water to students during summer by rehabilitating tube well
3.Curtail early dropout and early marriage
4.Accessories, training, nutritional food for girls’ footfall team that went to national level
5. After school program to increase GCE O/L success rate
6. Financial support for preschool to provide uniform, nutritional food, toilet and tube well
7. Computer, printer, photo copier and projector for school
8. Bicycle parking
9. Transportation facility
10. School supplies and shoes
11. Bicycles for students travelling from far distances 

Health
12. Permanent hospital
13. Clinics for pregnant women

Livelihood
14. Sustainable livelihood support, especially for women headed families and disabled persons
15. Loans for creating self-employment opportunities
16. Starting dairy farm, other cattle and fresh water fishing industry
17. Milk storage and yogurt making facility
18. Vocational training for youth

Agriculture
19. Irrigation for agriculture by rehabilitating tanks and constructing channels
20. Constructing wells for irrigation

Infrastructure
21. Drinking water to public by rehabilitating and building tube wells
22. Access roads to the village and bridge rehabilitation
23. Electricity connection and local grid extension
24. Public transportation
25. Electric fence and electricity supply to electric fence to control elephants
26. Post Office Cultural
27. Temple rehabilitation
28. Financial supports for funeral expenses Sports
29. Playground rehabilitation and sports equipment
30. Net fence for playground
31. Transportation Facility 

Miscellaneous
32. Tents and chairs for funeral and other functions
33. Financial help for seniors
34. Cemetery rehabilitation
35. Housing scheme for economically disadvantaged people