Children.lk

𝙎𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙨 𝙐𝙥 𝙩𝙤 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙎𝙧𝙞 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙖’𝙨 𝙈𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙑𝙪𝙡𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝘼𝙢𝙞𝙙 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙁𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝘿𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙨
- Children.lk News Update

Sri Lanka is facing one of the most devastating disasters in recent memory, with massive flooding forcing nearly 200,000 people into evacuation centres across the country. In crises of this scale, children are always the hardest hit—their education disrupted, their routines overturned, and their access to essential services severely limited.

In a statement on the unfolding emergency, Julian Chellappah, Country Director of Save the Children Sri Lanka, emphasized the urgency of the situation:
“Children have been forced out of their homes and schools by these monster floods with nearly 200,000 people currently in evacuation centres, which are already congested, and many lack adequate facilities and privacy and protection for children.”

Beyond the immediate physical danger, the crisis is placing immense pressure on families and children who now face heightened risks related to health, protection, nutrition, and psychosocial wellbeing. Evacuation sites—many overcrowded and under-resourced—struggle to meet even basic child protection standards.

Save the Children Sri Lanka, long committed to advancing children’s rights and safety, is actively responding with targeted interventions alongside partners. Their emergency work prioritizes:

# Protection services for displaced and vulnerable children

# Health and nutrition support for children, pregnant women, and the elderly

# Clean water and sanitation, essential to prevent outbreaks of disease

# Mental health and psychosocial support to the children in needs.

# Safe shelter and essential supplies for families who have lost homes

# Support for continued learning to reduce long-term educational disruption

The most vulnerable—including children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses—urgently require clean water, food, safe shelter, and uninterrupted access to essential services.

As Sri Lanka continues to navigate this humanitarian crisis, a focused and well-coordinated response for children remains critical. Children.lk acknowledges and salutes the contribution of Save the Children Sri Lanka and all partners working tirelessly on the ground to protect children and uphold their rights during this challenging time.

UN Mobilises Urgent Life-Saving Support for Communities Affected by Cyclone Ditwah
-Children.lk News Update

As Sri Lanka continues to grapple with the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners have mobilised rapid, life-saving assistance across the hardest-hit districts. Immediate support is already reaching affected families, aiming to protect lives, restore essential services, and safeguard the wellbeing of children.

UN teams on the ground are delivering a coordinated emergency response that includes:

Essential relief items for families who lost homes and belongings

Food assistance to ensure children and families are protected from hunger

Safe drinking water and water purification support to prevent illness

Health supplies and medical services in damaged or overwhelmed facilities

Child protection and psychosocial support services, prioritising displaced and vulnerable children

Response teams are continuing to scale up operations, focusing on areas where children’s safety, nutrition, and access to care are at greatest risk.

As the crisis unfolds, the protection of children must remain at the centre of all relief efforts. Children.lk stands with the families affected and will continue to highlight the needs of children during this emergency.

𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐅 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐌𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐫𝐢 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬
Children.lk News

UNICEF, together with PickMe, has launched an urgent national appeal to help safeguard the wellbeing of children and families who continue to face serious challenges due to the ongoing economic and humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka.

The initiative allows PickMe users to make direct donations to UNICEF through the PickMe app, enabling fast and secure contributions that will strengthen relief operations across the country. Funds raised will support the provision of life-saving nutrition, health supplies, clean water, education materials, and child protection services—critical needs for thousands of vulnerable children.

UNICEF has been at the forefront of assisting communities severely affected by rising food insecurity, malnutrition, and reduced access to essential services. With more families falling into hardship each day, timely support is urgently required.

Children.lk calls on the public to join this national effort and extend a helping hand. Even the smallest contribution can provide hope, comfort, and essential relief to a child in crisis.

Donate now through PickMe to support UNICEF’s life-saving work:
🔗 https://pickme-app-sl.onelink.me/Fore/g9fq3nmd

🌧️ 𝐂𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐡 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲: 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐫𝐢 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚 🌧️

Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency following severe floods and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Tragically, 153 lives have been lost, many remain missing, and thousands of families, especially children, have been displaced.

Children are among the most vulnerable:
👶 Displaced from their homes and living in temporary shelters
💧 Exposed to contaminated water, poor sanitation, and health risks
🍲 Facing disrupted access to food and nutrition
📚 Losing access to schooling and safe learning environments
😟 Experiencing emotional stress, fear, and uncertainty

Children.lk is sharing verified relief appeals from various organizations. These are included as attachments and will be updated frequently to guide the public on how to help or access support.

⚠️ Important: Children.lk does not collect donations. Support and assistance should be provided directly through verified relief providers.

Let’s stand with children and families affected by Cyclone Ditwah. Share this post, stay informed, and help ensure relief reaches those who need it most. 💛

𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧: 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐁𝐞 𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 I Children.lk News | 24th Oct

Source: The Daily Morning, Interview with Dr. Tara de Mel (Executive Director, Bandaranaike Academy for Leadership and Public Policy; Co-Founder, Education Forum Sri Lanka; Former Secretary to the Ministry of Education)

The Government’s reported backtracking on the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill — which aims to outlaw both corporal and non-physical punishment of children in educational and institutional settings — has sparked concern among child rights and education experts.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Dr. Tara de Mel described the move as a “significant regressive step” that contradicts Sri Lanka’s evidence-based policy trajectory on child protection and risks leaving children exposed to avoidable harm.

“After a laudable and clear policy trajectory toward criminalising corporal and non-physical punishments, backtracking would weaken child protection and contradict evidence-based practice,” Dr. de Mel warned.
“It also signals that public pressure can override children’s rights and safety, creating ambiguity about whether the State truly prioritises child protection.”

She stressed that child protection law must be guided first by evidence and international obligations, not by transient public sentiment or political expediency.

⚖️ A Step Backwards on Global and National Commitments

Sri Lanka ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1991, committing to protect children from “all forms of physical or mental violence” (Article 19). The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has consistently urged states to prohibit corporal punishment in all settings. A rollback, Dr. de Mel noted, would directly conflict with these treaty obligations and the UN Committee’s guidance.

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has also publicly backed the amendment, citing the rise in child rights violations and stressing the need for a firm national stance. According to HRCSL data (2023), complaints of physical and emotional violence against schoolchildren continue to increase, despite repeated Ministry of Education circulars banning corporal punishment.

📚 The Evidence Is Clear

Global studies by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) show that corporal punishment leads to:

Increased aggression and violent behaviour among children;

Higher anxiety, depression, and poor self-esteem;

Lower academic performance and school disengagement;

Long-term cognitive and emotional harm;

Intergenerational transmission of violence.

Dr. de Mel explained that while many Sri Lankans view corporal punishment as a traditional disciplinary tool, this mindset is shaped by deep-rooted cultural norms and lack of teacher training. “The change must come through teacher education, community engagement, and visible legal consequences. You can’t build respect through fear,” she said.

🧑‍🏫 A Call for Positive Discipline

Evidence from countries such as Sweden, New Zealand, and South Korea — which have fully prohibited corporal punishment — shows that positive discipline and restorative approaches improve both behaviour and learning outcomes.

Dr. de Mel advocates a comprehensive approach that includes:

Mandatory pre- and in-service teacher training on classroom management and positive discipline;

School counsellors and behaviour-support teams;

National public education campaigns to shift parental and community norms;

Clear monitoring and redress mechanisms for child complaints;

Linking school inspection and teacher evaluations to non-violent discipline standards.

🚸 Protecting Every Child’s Right to Dignity

With Sri Lanka already confronting rising reports of child abuse, school violence, and mental health challenges, experts warn that dismantling legislative protection would send the wrong message — that children’s safety can be negotiated.

“If we reverse this policy,” Dr. de Mel said, “we risk undoing decades of progress in building safer, child-friendly learning environments. Children need adults who model empathy and respect — not fear.”

As Sri Lanka navigates its education reforms, child rights advocates urge the Government to stay the course on banning corporal punishment and to align national law with the country’s international human rights commitments.

The protection of children is not a public opinion issue — it is a moral and legal obligation.

UNICEF’s Emma Brigham Visits Eastern Sri Lanka to Support Children
October 22, 2025 – Eastern Province, Sri Lanka I News I Children.lk

Emma Brigham, the Representative of UNICEF in Sri Lanka, visited the Eastern Province this week to learn more about how children and families are doing in the area.

During her visit, she met with the Governor of the province, local officials, teachers, parents, and children. She also visited a school in Trincomalee, where she talked with students and teachers about the challenges they face and how they are working together to improve education.

Emma Brigham saw that many families are facing difficulties, such as economic problems, which can make it harder for children to go to school or stay healthy. But what inspired her the most was how hard everyone is working to help children succeed.

From government workers and school staff to parents and the children themselves, everyone is doing their part to make sure every child has the chance to grow, learn, and live a happy life.

UNICEF continues to work with communities across Sri Lanka to support children’s rights and well-being.