Child Rights in Sri Lanka

Against a backdrop of civil unrest, economic crisis and natural disasters, Sri Lanka has made notable progress in advancing children’s rights, including efforts to address child labour. Still, major challenges remain. Today, 2.3% of Sri Lanka’s 4.5 million children are working, half of them in child labour, including its worst forms.

At the same time, tourism is booming, with tourism-generated revenue rising by 53.2% in 2024 compared to the previous year. This growth brings both opportunities and risks.

An estimated 85% of working children live in rural areas, mostly in the service sector, often under hazardous conditions. A 2020 child rights risk assessment by The Centre and Save the Children found that low parental wages, poor living conditions, lack of childcare, and child labour all pose serious risks to children in Sri Lanka’s tea sector. Only 39% of working children were attending school in 2016.

More recent assessments have highlighted growing risks in the tourism sector, including child labour and sexual exploitation. These risks call for stronger collaboration across the tourism supply chain – including global tour operators, booking platforms and local accommodation providers.