Child Action Lanka Marks 20 Years of Serving Children in Sri Lanka

Child Action Lanka Marks 20 Years of Serving Children in Sri Lanka

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Child Action Lanka has marked its twentieth anniversary with a celebration at Tower Hall Theatre in Maradana, bringing together children, volunteers, partners and supporters from across Sri Lanka and overseas for a programme reflecting two decades of service to children and communities.

The anniversary gathering, reported by the Colombo Gazette on 4 October 2026, provided an opportunity to recognise the organisation’s development since its establishment in 2006, while also highlighting the continuing importance of education, child protection, health, nutrition and community partnerships in improving opportunities for children.

More than 250 children travelled to Colombo from Child Action Lanka centres in Galle, Kandy, Gampola, Nuwara Eliya, Kilinochchi, Akkarayan, Mullaitivu and Batticaloa. Supporters from Belgium, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands and Australia also attended, demonstrating the international network that has developed around the organisation’s work.

A milestone shaped by children and community partnerships

The anniversary programme followed the final of Child Action Lanka’s UEFA-supported football project, Play Together, Rise Together, which was held on 25 September. Teams representing the organisation’s Akkarayan and Galle child development centres contested the final, placing sport, teamwork and personal development alongside the wider anniversary celebrations.

The inclusion of football was significant because the project provided children with an opportunity to participate in structured sporting activity while developing cooperation, confidence and a sense of belonging. In this context, the football final was not presented merely as a competition, but as part of a broader child-focused programme that connected children from different regions and centres.

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The anniversary programme at Tower Hall Theatre featured cultural performances by children, presentations on Child Action Lanka’s development and accounts from community members describing their experiences with the organisation. These elements placed children at the centre of the occasion, allowing their creativity and participation to represent the practical outcomes of long-term community work.

The event was attended by child rights advocate Dr Radhika Coomaraswamy as chief guest. According to the organisers, her address focused on the potential of children from disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve in later life, reinforcing the principle that a child’s circumstances should not determine the limits of future opportunity.

That emphasis remains particularly relevant in communities where educational access, household income, nutrition, health services and protection from harm can influence a child’s development. Sustained support, delivered through trusted local partnerships, can assist children not only with immediate needs but also with the confidence and skills required to participate more fully in society.

From a church basement in Kandy to eleven locations

Child Action Lanka was founded in 2006 and began its work in a church basement in Kandy. From that modest starting point, the organisation has expanded and now reports a presence in eleven locations across Sri Lanka.

Its programmes cover education, child protection, nutrition, health and community development. Much of its work is described as serving rural communities in the north, alongside activities in other parts of the country, including the areas represented at the anniversary event.

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The organisation’s history illustrates how community programmes can grow when local knowledge is combined with sustained institutional and international support. Child Action Lanka’s programmes involve partnerships with communities, government institutions, international supporters and volunteers, creating a framework through which practical assistance can be adapted to the needs of particular locations.

Education remains an instrumental part of this work, particularly where children require additional support to remain engaged with learning and to develop the skills necessary for future study or employment. Child protection programmes, meanwhile, are directed towards creating safer environments and strengthening the capacity of families and communities to respond to risks affecting children.

Nutrition and health initiatives address other foundations of childhood development, while community development programmes seek to strengthen the environments in which children grow. Taken together, these areas of work represent a comprehensive approach rather than a single intervention, acknowledging that educational progress is closely connected to wellbeing, safety and family circumstances.

International support with a local purpose

The attendance of supporters from Belgium, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands and Australia reflected the role played by Sri Lankans abroad, international partners and friends of Sri Lanka in supporting community organisations.

Such support can take several forms, including financial contributions, professional expertise, volunteering, school partnerships, awareness-building and long-term organisational relationships. Its value is greatest when it complements local leadership and responds to priorities identified by the communities themselves.

For the global Sri Lankan community, organisations such as Child Action Lanka offer a practical means of contributing to the wellbeing of children in Sri Lanka. Supporters living overseas may be geographically distant from the communities involved, yet their participation can assist programmes that are implemented through local centres and partnerships.

The anniversary also acknowledged a broad group of supporters. Representatives of the British High Commission and the Japanese Embassy attended, alongside board members and partner organisations. Those recognised included Epiphany Trust, Feed the Hungry and Oxford Falls Grammar School, as well as corporate and local supporters and government offices.

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The range of organisations acknowledged at the event underlined the collaborative character of Child Action Lanka’s work. Long-term progress for children is rarely achieved by one institution acting alone; it is more often built through cooperation between community members, educators, public institutions, charitable organisations, international partners and volunteers.

Looking ahead after two decades

The twentieth anniversary served both as a celebration and as a point of reflection. Child Action Lanka’s journey from a church basement in Kandy to an organisation working across eleven locations demonstrates the potential of patient, community-based service.

The occasion also brought together several dimensions of the organisation’s work: children performing on stage, young people participating in football, communities sharing their experiences and supporters being recognised for their contributions. This combination gave the anniversary a broad significance, connecting practical programmes with the dignity, creativity and aspirations of the children they serve.

The next stage of Child Action Lanka’s work will depend on the continued strength of its partnerships and its ability to respond to changing needs in the communities where it operates. As educational, social and economic pressures evolve, the organisation’s experience across education, child protection, health, nutrition and community development provides a useful foundation for further service.

Readers who wish to support Child Action Lanka are encouraged to contact the organisation directly through its official website: www.childactionlanka.org. Direct contact will provide the most reliable information about current programmes, volunteering opportunities and appropriate ways to contribute.

For eLanka readers in Australia and around the world, the anniversary offers a positive reminder that sustained community service can produce meaningful progress over time. Child Action Lanka’s twentieth year celebrates not only an organisation, but also the children, families, volunteers, institutions and international supporters whose participation has helped shape its work.

Source: https://colombogazette.com/2026/10/04/child-action-lanka-20-years-of-serving-children-in-sri-lanka

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