Shadows of Conflict in Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka: Socioeconomic Challenges and a Way Forward

Abstract

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Proactive detection of people in need of mental healthcare: accuracy of the community case detection tool among children, adolescents and families in Sri Lanka

“…Sri Lanka is a lower-middle income country in South Asia with a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population of 21.3 million. Thirty nine per cent of the population is under the age of 24 and 80% resides in rural areas [20,21]. The Tsunami in 2004 and three-decades of civil war which ended in 2009, resulted in over 100,000 lives lost and left 300,000 civilians internally displaced [11,21].…”

“…Thirty nine per cent of the population is under the age of 24 and 80% resides in rural areas [20,21]. The Tsunami in 2004 and three-decades of civil war which ended in 2009, resulted in over 100,000 lives lost and left 300,000 civilians internally displaced [11,21]. This study was carried out in three divisions in the Eastern Province, with a total population of 25,591 children aged 5-19 years [22].…”

“…This study was carried out in three divisions in the Eastern Province, with a total population of 25,591 children aged 5-19 years [22]. Despite Sri Lanka's overall economic growth, poverty rates in the Eastern and Northern Province, where most of the armed conflict was concentrated, are far above the national average [21]. There is no available data on the prevalence of mental health problems among children and adolescents in the Eastern Province.…”

Examining post-conflict stressors in northern Sri Lanka: A qualitative study

“…In addition to exposure to extreme war-related traumatic events such as witnessing or experiencing torture, injury and death, many in Sri Lanka have experienced ruptured familial and community relationships, outmigration of loved ones, changing social values, and loss of livelihood and education [5]. As reviewed in a recent World Bank report, many households in the Northern Province turned to daily wage labour as their primary livelihood strategy following the breakdown of critical infrastructure and the agriculture sector, fisheries, and industries during the conflict years [6]. The rise in this informal sector resulted in lower wages for many and increased levels of poverty and displacement in the region [6].…”

“…As reviewed in a recent World Bank report, many households in the Northern Province turned to daily wage labour as their primary livelihood strategy following the breakdown of critical infrastructure and the agriculture sector, fisheries, and industries during the conflict years [6]. The rise in this informal sector resulted in lower wages for many and increased levels of poverty and displacement in the region [6]. At the end of 2009, half of those displaced were in government supported welfare centres [6].…”