CERI Sri Lanka

02/09/2026

CERI Sri Lanka joins the global launch of Pathways Home 🏠

Children's Emergency Relief International (CERI)

Today, CERI Sri Lanka proudly joins CERI globally in launching Pathways Home — a campaign grounded in the belief that every child has the right to grow up in a safe, nurturing and protective family environment. 🧡

The continued reliance on residential and institutional care highlights a critical child protection concern: unnecessary family separation. Globally, more than 80% of children living in orphanages have at least one living parent, demonstrating the urgent need to strengthen systems that prevent unnecessary separation and promote family-based care.

Through Pathways Home, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening family and community-based care, preventing unnecessary separation, supporting safe family reintegration, and addressing the underlying vulnerabilities that place children at risk of entering alternative care.

A strong child protection system should not only respond when children are separated — it must also prevent separation wherever it is safe and in the best interests of the child.

Together, we can strengthen families, empower communities, improve alternative care systems, and ensure that children grow up safe, protected, included and where they belong — in families. 🧡

Let’s make family-based care the norm, not the exception.

02/06/2026

Congratulations, Caitlyn McElroy, on your appointment as President of CERI! 🎉 Wishing you every success as you lead the organization forward with your vision, dedication, and commitment to making a positive impact.

We are thrilled to announce the appointment of our new President of CERI, Caitlyn McElroy! Please join us in congratulating Caitlyn on this well-deserved promotion. Her leadership, dedication, and commitment to our mission have made a lasting impact, and we look forward to the continued success and growth she will help drive in this new role. 🎉

01/06/2026

What an incredible morning of community action and environmental responsibility at Kallady Beach!

Headway School of Languages, in collaboration with CERI Sri Lanka, successfully organized a beach cleanup program to mark World Environment Day, bringing together more than 120 participants, including students, sponsorship children, staff members, and volunteers.

This initiative was more than just cleaning a beach—it was about creating awareness, inspiring environmental responsibility, and demonstrating the positive impact that can be achieved when a community comes together for a common cause.

We extend our sincere gratitude to CERI Sri Lanka for their valuable partnership, guidance, and support throughout this initiative. We also thank the Batticaloa Municipal Council for their cooperation and assistance in making this program possible.

A special thank you goes to all Headway staff, CERI staff, students, sponsorship children, and volunteers whose enthusiasm, teamwork, and dedication made this event a remarkable success. Your hard work and commitment to protecting our environment were truly inspiring.

Together, we collected waste, raised awareness, and took an important step toward creating a cleaner and greener future for our community.

Let us continue to be responsible environmental stewards and remember that every small action can make a big difference.

💚 Cleaner Beaches
💚 Greener Communities
💚 Better Future

01/06/2026

📢 We Are Hiring!

Children's Emergency Relief International (CERI) is looking for passionate and dedicated professionals to join our Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Project team.

🔹 Social Worker
🔹 ECCD Project Coordinator

If you are committed to supporting children, families, and communities and would like to make a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply. Please refer to the vacancy announcement for eligibility criteria, responsibilities, and application instructions.

📅 Application Deadline: June 15, 2026

Join us in creating a brighter future for children and communities across Sri Lanka.

29/04/2026

20/04/2026

At CERI Sri Lanka, safeguarding the dignity, rights, and well-being of every individual we serve remains at the heart of our work.

Recently, our staff participated in a comprehensive training on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), a critical step in strengthening our commitment to ethical, accountable, and people-centered service delivery.

PSEA is not just a policy; it is a responsibility. It empowers our team to recognize, prevent, and respond to risks of exploitation and abuse, ensuring that the communities we support are treated with respect, protection, and care at all times.

We extend our sincere appreciation to UNICEF Sri Lanka for their valuable investment in conducting the Training of Trainers (TOT) for our staff.

Together, we continue to build a culture of trust, respect, and zero tolerance for exploitation and abuse.

18/04/2026

Because every child deserves a chance to grow. 🧡

At nearly 3 years old, Pasindu weighed about the same as a 7-month-old. He struggled to lift his head and had little appetite.

Pasindu and his family live in a rural village in Sri Lanka’s Ampara district, where access to clean water and sanitation is limited. His mother lives with hearing loss and speech difficulties, making it difficult to find work. Pasindu’s health challenges often require hospital care, and the journey to get there is long and costly.

Together with UNICEF, CERI is supporting children facing Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in communities hit hardest by Cyclone Ditwah and flooding. Through this initiative, Pasindu began receiving Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) in order to provide the energy and nutrients he needs to grow.

In just 20 days, Pasindu gained nearly half a kilogram—progress that once took almost a year. Pasindu’s family now receives transportation assistance to ensure Pasindu receives the treatment he needs.

Today, Pasindu’s appetite is improving, he can lift his head freely, and he’s on his way to a healthy weight. While some challenges remain, the support they received has given Pasindu’s family the hope and resources to drastically improve Pasindu’s health.

Appropriate and timely support can transform lives and bring lasting hope. 🙏🧡

16/03/2026

A First Aid Training Session for youth was successfully conducted through the Family Resource Center, in collaboration with the Kaluthawanchikkudy Divisional Secretariat, with technical support from the Red Cross. The initiative was carried out with the support of the Samurdhi Development Programme.

A total of 42 youths actively participated in the session, where they gained valuable knowledge and practical skills in basic first aid and emergency response. The training helped equip young people with the confidence and ability to respond during emergencies and support their communities when needed.

We sincerely appreciate the support and collaboration of the government partners and all those who contributed to making this programme a success.

Through such initiatives, we continue to strengthen youth capacities and promote safer, more resilient communities. 🙌

08/03/2026

Happy Women's Day! ❤️