Sri Lanka

In a move that was widely considered a political coup, Sri Lanka’s president abruptly dismissed the current prime minister and appointed a new one in fall 2018. For almost two months, the country was at a standstill as politicians tried to resolve the disruption. Sporadic incidents of violence became more common as government services were shut down. The crisis ended when the country’s Supreme Court issued a ruling to nullify the president’s attempted coup. This political instability hit people hard. Many foreign investors pulled out of Sri Lanka, leaving the economy fragile. A prolonged drought that started earlier in the year had already cost people jobs in agriculture, and more than a million were suffering from the effects. The lack of rain impacted four-fifths of the country’s regions, which means thousands of families are left wondering where their next meals will come from. Malnutrition among young children remains a problem for the country, although the government is working on helping to make food more available for everyone. Thanks to the support of our donors and partners, many vulnerable children and families were supported. Working together with the government, we helped citizens make their voices heard in national policies that affect them, especially regarding health and nutrition. Celebrity ambassadors joined us to raise awareness at a national level for children’s rights and protection. And we continued to support the most vulnerable families who were hit by the drought with emergency assistance like mosquito nets, food rations, blankets, and more.