There has been a drastic increase in the number of Tamil children being sent to children’s homes in the Northern Province, as Sri Lanka’s economic crisis has forced families to breaking point across the region.

According data provided by the Child Care and Probation Department of the Northern Province, as of June 2022 nearly 246 children have been sent to children’s homes in the Northern Province.

The economic crisis functions as both the direct and indirect factor behind children in the North being sent to children’s homes, since their parents are no longer capable of providing for them, said Northern Province Commissioner of Child Care and Probation Guruparan Rajendran to The Morning yesterday.

With the economic crisis impacting on government spending, he added that there was insufficient funding being provided to his department.

“There is inadequate funding to support and maintain these children and therefore, the Child Care and Probation Department has had to opt for the option of sending them to homes,” he added. 

“The institutionalisation of children and sending them to homes should be the last option. But we are sending children to homes as the first option due to the lack of funds.”

There are 1,529 children in 37 registered child development centres, while 689 children are cared for by guardians as they are orphans, according to data provided by the Child Care and Probation Department of the Northern Province. 

Read more from The Morning here.