“All children’s homes in Sri Lanka should be closed down because of the rampant abuse. Shocking incidents are happening in children’s homes all over the country” said Anoma Dissanayake, former head of National Child Protection Authority. 

Her statement underscores a long-standing crisis rooted in Sri Lanka’s reliance on institutional care for vulnerable children.

The Legacy of Institutionalisation 

According to the 2019 Department of Census and Statistics report, over 10,630 children remain in institutional care across Sri Lanka, deprived of the nurturing environment of a family. 62.2% of these vulnerable children are girls. 

These institutions fall under the Department of Probation and Child Care Services (DPCCS), which is mandated to ensure the welfare of children in line with national and international standards. But why are these children institutionalised in the first place?

Often, the reasons include poverty, a parent’s migration for work, domestic violence, disability, lack of access to education and healthcare. 

Notably, only 18% of institutionalised children are orphans. Most of them have at least one living parent. Despite policies stating that poverty should not be a reason for institutionalisation, economic hardship remains the leading cause of children being placed in institutions. This leads to consequences like  children facing emotional neglect, developmental delays, and increased vulnerability to psychiatric disorders.

The Promise of Reform: Sri Lanka’s National Policy on Alternate Care

In 2019, the Cabinet of Ministers took a progressive step by approving the National Policy on Alternative Care for Children. Developed by the DPCCS under the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, the policy aims to phase out institutional care in favour of family-oriented solutions. 

The National Alternative Care Policy aims to uphold every child’s right to grow up in a safe and supportive family environment. Where alternative care becomes necessary, the policy prioritises family-oriented care options such as

• Kinship care (care by relatives)
• Foster care (temporary care by trained individuals/families)
• Domestic adoption (permanent family placement)

This policy is a step in the right direction, because children thrive in family-like environments where they receive individual attention, emotional care and a sense of belonging. Moreover, family-based care not only promotes a child’s identity and well being, but also reduces risks of abuse, trauma and neglect associated with institutions. 

Lessons from the Region

Sri Lanka is not alone in this journey. Many South Asian countries have embraced alternate care as opposed to institutionalisation. 

• India implemented the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, creating child welfare committees and promoting family-based care at the district level. 
• Singapore applies a multi-agency foster care strategy with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and organisations like Boys’ Town working together to train and support caregivers. 
• Nepal, through its Child Protection Act and Alternative Care Framework, has emphasised family-based solutions over institutions.

These countries show that with political will, legal infrastructure, and community support, moving from a model of institutions to families is possible.

The Glaring Gap: Why isn’t it Working?

Despite the bold vision, implementation of the policy in Sri Lanka has been painfully slow. Critical mandates, like establishing a gatekeeping system to prevent unnecessary institutionalisation, remain unfulfilled. Some key challenges include

• Systemic issues like poor inter-agency coordination and underfunding that have weakened service delivery and accountability. 
• Frontline workers lack training to support family-based care. 
• Financial constraints have stalled the development of foster care, kinship care, and family support services. 
• Socially, stigma and low public awareness of alternative care options continue to limit participation.

Without tangible action, the policy risks becoming just another document that fails to protect the children it was meant to serve.

What Needs to Happen: An Action Plan

To bridge the gap between vision and reality, Sri Lanka must act now.  

A clear Action Plan must include

• Concrete timelines for implementation
• Strengthening the Probation Department with resources and training
• Defined roles and accountability for all stakeholders
• A comprehensive monitoring and evaluation strategy
• Nationwide awareness campaigns to build trust in family based care

To drive this effort forward, the creation of a dedicated Task Force on  Policy Implementation is essential.

Sri Lanka has the opportunity to redefine child protection. Learning from neighbouring countries and investing in community-supported care models will not only protect children, it will reshape our society.