Child representatives from the Western, Eastern and Central Provinces yesterday (24) highlighted the serious challenges faced by children from underprivileged communities, including drug use, school dropouts, poor sanitation and shortages of educational resources.

Addressing the media in Colombo, a child representative from Batticaloa District said addiction to dangerous substances had affected the lives of schoolchildren in the area.

She said around 1.6% of students in the District use cannabis, while 0.6% use heroin. She also noted that recurring floods in the District had resulted in several children dropping out of school. “A lot of children have stopped their education in a bid to help support their families,” she lamented.

Meanwhile, a child representing children from Greater Colombo said that although there was a perception that children in Colombo faced fewer difficulties, those living in underprivileged areas continued to experience serious problems, particularly in health and education. Citing Maradana and Rajagiriya as examples, she said children in these areas faced several challenges.

She noted that the Gothamipura Canal was not only home to crocodiles and serpents but had also become a health hazard due to the accumulation of garbage.

Although the Government had taken measures to clean the canal, these efforts had not proved effective, she said.

She also said children were exposed to adults using drugs, which could tempt them to experiment with narcotics themselves.

Several schools in Maradana and surrounding areas were also unable to adequately cater to the educational needs of children due to shortages of human resources and infrastructure facilities, she said.