Children under the age of 18 who lost their parents during Cyclone Ditwah will remain under State protection until formal legal procedures are completed to determine their custody, the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) said.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, NCPA Director – Planning and Information Shanika Malalgoda said that under Sri Lankan law, the Department of Probation and Child Care Services held sole authority over child custody, with the final decision resting with the courts based on the best interests and specific needs of each child.
She said that all affected children were currently housed in safety centres managed by the relevant district and divisional secretariats, ensuring their protection under official supervision during the ongoing recovery phase.
Malalgoda said efforts were underway to compile a complete count of children orphaned by the disaster. “A combined effort of gathering data is ongoing and it will take some time.”
She added that the NCPA’s immediate priority was the provision of psychosocial support and rescue operations for children affected by the cyclone.
Emphasising the legal process involved, Malalgoda stressed that custody would be granted only through formal legal procedures, even if close relatives came forward seeking guardianship.
She further said that the NCPA had expanded its mental health response services, with a focus on providing timely psychosocial care.
District psychosocial officers, together with district and divisional child protection officers, are overseeing the well-being of the children. They are supported by volunteers from the University Student Ambassador National Programme (USANP), a network of trained university students who visit safety centres and schools to provide mental health assistance to children under 18.
Noting that the emotional well-being of affected children remained a key concern, Malalgoda said that the NCPA was accepting donations of schoolbags, toys, stationery, footwear, warm clothing, and other essential items at its Headquarters.
She added that NCPA officials had been assigned to distribute these items and expressed gratitude to individuals, businesses, and Sri Lankans living overseas for their support during this critical period.
Meanwhile, as learnt by The Sunday Morning, district secretariats in the affected areas are continuing verification processes.
With Kandy being one of the worst-affected districts, Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatta told The Sunday Morning that while final figures were not available yet, a comprehensive report was expected in the coming days.
Matale District Secretary Prasanna Madanayake said that although data collection was still ongoing, the district’s comparatively lower death toll suggested there may be no orphaned children in the area.
For child-related concerns, the NCPA’s hotline 1929 remains open to the public for both disaster-related and general child protection issues.
Meanwhile, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Assistant Director Pradeep Kodippili said that the DMC was still awaiting a finalised count of orphaned children, noting that the data would be released once verified by the relevant district secretariats.