Guided by the principles of the Convention on the rights of the Child, UNICEF programmes seek to ensure that children are given the best start in life, for the long road to adulthood.

Our work on the ground:
HEALTH AND NUTRITION
Sri Lanka has achieved a relatively high status of health as seen by the low levels of infant, child and maternal mortality and high life expectancy. However, despite advances in child and maternal survival, under-nutrition remains a major public health problem that UNICEF is heavily engaged in.

In Sri Lanka UNICEF supports quality health and nutrition services including immunization, emergency obstetric care and neonatal care, provision of medical supplies, support to mobile clinics, promotion of infant and young child feeding, micronutrient supplementation, nutrition rehabilitation of severely under-nourished under fives, the provision of fortified supplementary food; behavioral change communication and health promotion.Key Numbers

1. Under 5 Mortality 21 (per 1000 live births)
2. Neonatal Mortality 10 (per 1000 live births)
3. Maternal Mortality 44 (per 100,000 live births)
4. Infant Mortality 15 (per 1000 live births)
5. Immunization coverage 99%
6. 22% of infants are born with low weight
7. 75% of infants are exclusively breastfed up to 6 months

EDUCATION
UNICEF’s Education programme focuses on ensuring access to quality schooling for all children of compulsory school-going age and on ensuring that children affected by conflict have access to education with minimal disruption. UNICEF works closely with the Ministry of Education (MoE), within the Education Sector Development Plan Framework (ESDFP), focusing on capacity building and programming at national level, as well as in disadvantaged plantation areas and conflict affected North and East of the country.  In emergency education, UNICEF’s immediate response activities include providing temporary learning spaces, essential education supplies and psychosocial training for teachers to support children. To boost rates of learning achievement, attendance and retention, UNICEF's quality education assistance has been incorporated within a Child Friendly School (CFS) framework through a holistic approach to school development. UNICEF’s initial response to the Tsunami included building temporary classrooms, providing education supplies to about 300,000 children and providing Catch-Up Education programmes. UNICEF has completed the reconstruction of 21 schools completely destroyed by the Tsunami, while 11 additional schools will be completed in 2009 Key Numbers

1. Gross enrolment rate in primary (National) 97% (Boys 99%, Girls 94%)
2. Completion rate in primary (National) 90% (Boys 88% Girls 91%)
3. 49% of Grade 4 students achieve mastery in First language
4. 56.5 of Grade 4 students achieve mastery in Mathematics
5. 17% of children who drop out of school

Water, sanitation and hygiene
UNICEF contributes to the survival, growth and development of all children in Sri Lanka through equitable and sustainable access to safe water, basic sanitation services, and improved hygiene. 

In August 2008, the US$10million Tangalle-Belliate Water Supply Scheme was commissioned, thereby tripling the access of safe drinking water for those living in this area. A second treatment plant, in Thirukkovil in Ampara district, will be ready in the first half of 2009. It will provide safe drinking water to about 31,000 people.

In 2007, UNICEF ensured 180,000 conflict IDPs gained access to sanitation facilities and safe drinking water in IDP camps, while more than 300,000 Tsunami-affected people have benefited from restored rural water supply systems and were provided with adequate sanitary facilities and hygiene promotion activities. Key Numbers

1. 26% of the population lack access to safe drinking water (35% in rural areas)
2. 24% of the total population lack adequate sanitation facilities
3. 20% of schools lack adequate safe water and sanitation facilities

 
Child protection
In Sri Lanka, UNICEF’s support is aimed both at legislative reform and strengthening policies, procedures and practices to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable children.

UNICEF builds public awareness and understanding on different forms of abuse; supports training of police and probation officers; facilitates the implementation and monitoring of reforms; and works with Government in updating its domestic legislation to be in line with its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Children in conflict zones are at risk of recruitment into armed groups, abduction, mine injuries and higher rates of malnutrition than other areas of the country. UNICEF emphasizes prevention of all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation committed against children, Mine/UXO awareness, registration, tracing, reunification and reintegration of all.
Key Numbers

• Since 2002, there were 6,284 children recruited by LTTE and 528 by Karuna group.
• There are 1424 outstanding cases of under age recruitment by the LTTE and 130 with the Karuna group (September 2008 update). Of these 117 and 62 respectively are under the age of 18.
• Cases of child sexual abuse reported per year (for the past four years) – 200
• Cases of child sexual abuse are being investigated by the Attorney General’s Department – 1500
• Children in residential care - 22,000 children (54% girls)