Sri Lanka

Two decades of armed conflict between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the government have culminated in the displacement of more than 270,000 people, many of them forced to live in crowded camps. In December 2004, more than 35,000 people were killed and half a million lost their homes in the Indian Ocean tsunami.

  • We provided more than 50,000 children with lifesaving support during the recent conflict.
  • We’re improving preschool education for thousands of children.
  • We’re helping 1,344 former child soldiers settle back into their communities.

Save the Children in Sri Lanka

We’ve worked in Sri Lanka for more than 35 years and last year we worked directly with nearly 118,000 children, reaching hundreds of thousands more through our policy and communications work.

In the aftermath of the tsunami, we helped thousands of people rebuild their homes, communities and livelihoods.

We’re improving the quality of preschool education

Over the past year, we’ve built 25 early childhood centres in the conflict-affected north and east of the country, and improved 45 more with fencing, toilets, play materials and activity gardens.

We’ve also trained 1,300 teachers from 700 centres in activity-based teaching methods, benefitting more than 15,000 children.

We’re supporting children in primary and secondary school

The aerial bombardment and renewed fighting in the north disrupted the education of thousands of children. We’ve provided learning kits containing books and stationery to 11,700 children in the worst-affected areas and set up 16 temporary learning spaces.

We're helping children affected by conflict

In early 2009, the government launched a full-scale military offensive on the LTTE-occupied northern part of the country, taking the lives of thousands of people and forcing thousands more into crowded camps.

We’ve distributed food and essentials such as sleeping mats, mosquito nets, soap, clothing and toothbrushes to more than 50,000 children. We’ve also provided school kits and safe play areas for children.

We’re protecting children from harm

During the conflict, thousands of girls and boys were recruited by armed groups. We’re helping 1,344 children return to their families, catch up on their education and learn skills that will help them earn a living.

We’re helping families get out of poverty

Thousands of families have been forced to leave their land, businesses or paid work because of the war. Rising food prices and high inflation have pushed many more into poverty.

We’re providing financial support for 1,640 families and training for 900 so that they can restock and develop their small businesses or buy seeds to cultivate their land.

We’re helping children be better prepared for future disasters

We’ve trained teachers and community leaders to identify risks and 23,000 children have participated in activities which help prepare them for future emergencies.

Find out more

Sri Lanka related news stories

Friday 22 May 2009 Aid restrictions to Sri Lankan camps endangering tens of thousands of children
Restrictions on the access of aid agencies to government-controlled camps in northern Sri Lanka is endangering tens of thousands of malnourished and traumatised children.
Thursday 21 May 2009 Malnourished pregnant women in urgent need of aid in Sri Lankan camps
At least a quarter of pregnant and breastfeeding women currently sheltering in government-controlled camps in north-east Sri Lanka are suffering from acute malnourishment.
Monday 18 May 2009 Children are bearing the brunt of the humanitarian crisis as Sri Lanka's conflict comes to a brutal conclusion
A further fifty thousand people are expected to flee the conflict zone in north east Sri Lanka, causing an inevitable humanitarian crisis
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