Life style

Believe the child says Dr Tush

Published

12 months ago

2025/02/2

Thilina Walpola

Dr Tush Wickramanayaka Chairperson, Stop Child Cruelty Trust Co-convener, Child Protection Alliance

By Zanita Careem

Sri Lanka has become an unsafe environment for women and children said Dr. Tushara Wickramanayake, fondly known as Tush.A family physician and founder, Chairperson of Stop Child Cruelty Trus. An old girl of Visakha Vidyalaya, she has been an active voice against all
forms of injustice on children and women from an early age. A General Physician, practicing in UK and Sri Lanka. Tush has worked in child welfare since Tsunami 2004 and became a passionate child rights advocate turning adversity to advocacy after her own 11 year
old daughter was subjected to corporal punishment andmental abuse in an International school in 2018. Spearheading a national campaign to end violence against children in Sri Lanka,Tush’s self-learning experience of the crippled child protection mechanism, indefatigable efforts in advocacy work, compassion and empathy in raising awarenesshas resulted in global recognition and historical achievements in a short period of time. Can you tell us about your experience working with children who have been affected by abuse?

Child abuse can be broadly categorized into physical abuse, sexual abuse, mental abuse and neglect. Physical abuse, cruelty, corporal punishment are the most common form of abuse in Sri Lanka and globally affecting 1.3 billion children each year. The complaints received on cruelty by the National ChildProtection Authority (NCPA) have trebled in ten years with 2238 cases reported in 2023.Sexual abuse, especially on-line abuse isincreasing rapidly. Whilst there may beinjuries and scars visible immediately after physical and sexual abuse, all forms of abuse affects the child mentally. But mental scars may not be obvious and may require years before a formal clinical diagnosis is made.

Therefore, mental abuse is often overlooked, their true effects amplifying years later into adulthood and cascades to the society. Often, the impact of abuse depends on the child’s own internal resilience and external support systems.For example, a child who is forced to kneel down maybe immune to it because it is normalised in his/her environment whilst another child maybe traumatized because it is unfamiliar in his/her surroundings. Irrespective of our own upbringing and prejudices we must endorse zero tolerance of any form of abuse against children growing up in the 21st century.

How do you handle situations where you suspect abuse but don’t have concrete evidence?

The first and simple golden rule is BELIEVE the child. 90% of child abuse occurs within the home environment, perpetrated by people whom the child loves and trusts. Most of the time, the abuse occurs for years, maybe even known to some adults and ignored because they are afraid of the scandal this may reveal or crippled by the power hierarchy. If the child mentions anything untoward try not to dismiss the child or defend the alleged perpetrator in the intention of saving the family name, school name or reputation of the person. Children may show symptoms of abuse, which may be subtle – becoming quiet and withdrawn, spends more time in seclusion, avoids things they normally enjoy, refusal of school, spends more time on devices, eating/sleeping disturbances,

substance abuse, mood changes including anger and anti-social behaviour, risk taking behaviours like staying out too late or disappearing without informing parents, joining new clicks of friends, etc. The best way to ensure your child comes to you as the first port of call if they are in trouble is to have a healthy parent child communication without persecution or blame. If the child feels they can make mistakes without being penalized,they will be forthcoming and transparent. Encourage your child to follow the traffic light system from the age that they can walk and talk to Red – shout, Orange – run and Green – tell someone they trust. Introduce a security ring where the child identifies 2/3 adults whom they trust. It can be parents, teachers, grandparents, elderly siblings, etc.Always remember the first and last step is to BELIEVE the child.

What was most rewarding and what was most challenging about working with child victims of abuse?

The globally accepted term is “survivor” of child abuse because victimizing someone is disempowering them. The most rewarding is when the child is able to overcome the trauma and be able to function at the highest individual capacity they consider as being normal for them. This could even be as simple as waking up and getting to school consistently. The most challenging has been to deal with the bureaucratic lethargy in finding the care, support and justice in the State mechanisms. Once the child is removed from the immediate risk, we need to consider the safest and healthiest option.

This requires a multi-disciplinary approach with the family unit at the heart of the solution because research has shown that chances of a child thriving within a caring family are more than under institutionalised care. Aligned with this are relevant input form education, health, justice, rehabilitation, social and caregiver support. Caregiver support includes education, economic and mental support, which is often neglected whilst focusing on the child.

Can you describe a difficult case you have worked on and how you handled it?

The most recent was a case of two sisters, aged 17 and 14 years who were suspected of being sexually harassed by the father in a remote village. Although there was no conclusive evidence of actual sexual abuse the stories from the girls were convincing for me to take immediate action. The mother was a labourer on meagre allowance whilst the father was the main provider. The police were being influenced by the father and his connections, a not too unfamiliar scenario in maintaining law and order in Sri Lanka. We filed a case in court requesting restricted access to the father and full guardianship for the mother. I tried valiantly to get them to a government safe home but failed. The father followed them around and kept on physically harassing the family.

The next thing I did was to find a higher paying job that gave the mother some financial independence. She found a relative in the area who helped them to relocate. Even changing schools was an issue because the father objected for the old school to provide the leaving certificate as he had signed their admission forms. The school authorities were paralysed by his threats. I had to write to the Education authorities alerting them of acting in contrary to court orders and violating the basic education rights of the children; after months of exchanging correspondence, the girls were enrolled in the best school in the region where they are excelling now with counselling support. After one year, they still keep in touch with me, share their achievements and we hope to meet them personally when they come to Colombo soon.

What is your understanding of child protection?

Many are confused by these terms: Child Safeguarding – encompasses broader preventive measures within the organization. It refers to actions that address how business operations and work practices impact children’s welfare. The purpose is to prevent harm before it occurs. The key actions are implementing policies, training staff and promoting safe practices. It is applied continuously as a proactive approach and has collective responsibility. Example: Conducting risk assessment in the prospective service delivery points.

Child Protection – is an important part of safeguarding and refers to the actions an organization takes to address a specific concern that a particular child is at risk of significant harm due to her contact with staff, family, etc. The purpose is to intervene when children are at immediate risk and prevent further The key actions are investigating cases, providing support, reporting mechanisms and ensuring safety of vulnerable children. It is applied after harm occurred and shared by everyone much wider.

For example reporting cases and providing psychosocial support to a child who has been physically abused. Child Protection Programs – these are specific initiatives designed to address child protection issues to protect children through targeted interventions. Advocacy programs to lobby parliament to pass the Bill on abolishing corporal punishment. The safeguarding mechanisms are non-existent in Sri Lanka with no systematic Child Protection policies either. Hence, the child protection programs are inconsistent elevating child abuse as a top five grave crime according to the annual grave crimes report by Sri Lanka police of 2023.

What are the current child protection mechanisms in Sri Lanka and how does it compare to the rest of the world?

Sri Lanka ratified the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1991. There are 45 articles but even if we can’t remember them all, just remember Article 3, ‘in the best interest of the child’. Despite the cabinet approving the National Child Protection Policy in 2019, the NCPA has failed to implement it to date. Likewise, there are many laws and regulations that are not being implemented effectively, especially Ministry of Education Circular forbidding physical punishment of students in schools. It is ironic that although in 2017 Sri Lanka was honoured by being the only South Asian path-finding country focused ending violence against children,

the National Partnership to End Violence Against Children (NPEVAC) collapsed in 2018 and we have been lethargic to introduce legal reforms to end corporal punishment,
the most common form of child abuse. Due to absence of safeguarding policies and mechanisms there is a high incidence of abuse occurring within schools and care homes under Probation and Childcare Services. As none of the governments elected have even acknowledged child welfare as the core of the national political agenda, such abuse can be con For example in UK, a ten year old girl child was abused and murdered by her parents in August 2023.

The perpetrators were arrested, the criminal court case was concluded in December 2024 and the accused were given life imprisonment sentences. In contrast, in Sri Lanka, a 15/16 year old girl was allegedly sexually abused in a politician’s home and died after severe burn injuries in July 2022 but the investigations remain incomplete and no indictments have been filed to date. The Auditor General’s Report of 2022 concluded there are over 40,000 cases of child abuse backlogged at the NCPA and Attorney General’s Department. This is a national tragedy.

What are the three things that the government can implement immediately to improve the child protection crisis?

Appointment of a Presidential Task Force for children Provide additional budget allocation for education and child welfare Finalise the legislative process, particularly the Bill on Penal Code Reforms to Abolish Corporal Punishment, which was passed in Cabinet in September 2024. We hope the new government will present this Bill to parliament.

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Life style

From Vanishing Sea Snakes to DNA in a Bottle

Published

4 days ago

2026/01/18

Thilina Walpola

Dr. Ru on Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda's book terming a must read. Also in the picture Wildlife Nature Protection Society President Graham Marshall

Dr. Ruchira Somaweera on Rethinking Conservation

What happens when one of the world’s richest marine biodiversity hotspots collapses almost overnight — and no one knows why?

That was the question facing Australian authorities in the early 2000s when Ashmore Reef, a remote marine reserve in the Timor Sea, suddenly lost what once made it globally unique: its extraordinary diversity and abundance of sea snakes.

“At one point, this place had more species of sea snakes and more individuals than anywhere else on Earth,” recalled Dr. Ruchira Somaweera, one of the world’s leading reptile biologists. “Then, within a few years, everything collapsed.”

Speaking at a packed Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) Monthly Lecture, sponsored by Nations Trust Bank and held at the BMICH, Dr. Somaweera described how the mysterious disappearance triggered a major federal investigation.

“At the time, I was a federal government scientist,” he said. “We were sent to find out what went wrong — but it wasn’t obvious at all.”

Ashmore Reef, a protected area managed by Parks Australia, was still teeming with turtles, sharks and pelagic birds. Yet the sea snakes — once recorded at rates of up to 60 individuals per hour — had virtually vanished.

Ruchira making his presentation

The breakthrough came not from the water, but from policy.

For decades, traditional Indonesian fishers from Roti Island had been permitted to harvest sharks at Ashmore under a bilateral agreement. When Australia banned shark fishing around 2000, shark numbers rebounded rapidly.

“And sharks are the main predators of sea snakes,” Dr. Somaweera explained. “What we realised is that what we thought was ‘normal’ may actually have been an imbalance.”

In other words, sea snakes had flourished during an unusual window when their top predators were suppressed. Once sharks returned, the ecosystem corrected itself — with dramatic consequences.

“It was a powerful lesson,” he said. “Sometimes collapse isn’t caused by pollution or climate change, but by ecosystems returning to balance.”

The mystery didn’t end there. Some sea snake species once known only from Ashmore were now feared extinct. But instead of accepting that conclusion, Dr. Somaweera and colleagues took a different approach — one that combined science with local knowledge.

“Scientists often fail by not talking to the people who live with these animals,” he said. “Fishermen have decades of experience. That knowledge matters.”

Using museum records, fisher interviews and species distribution modelling, the team predicted where these snakes might still exist. The models suggested vast new areas — some the size of Sri Lanka — had never been properly surveyed.

When researchers finally reached these sites, often involving helicopters, research vessels and enormous logistical costs, they made a startling discovery.

“We found populations of species we thought were gone,” he said. “They were there all along. We were just looking in the wrong place.”

Even more surprising was where they were found — far deeper than expected.

Traditional sea snake surveys rely on night-time spotlighting, assuming snakes surface to breathe and rest. But footage from deep-sea remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) revealed that many species live in the mesophotic zone, where light fades and surveys rarely reach.

“Some of these snakes are deep divers,” Dr. Somaweera said. “They don’t behave the way we assumed.”

That insight led to one of his most remarkable discoveries — coordinated, communal hunting in the Irabu sea krait off Indonesia.

“At 40 metres deep, on the slope of an extinct volcano, we found them hunting in groups,” he said. “They take turns flushing fish and feeding. That level of cooperation was never known in snakes.”

Beyond discovery, Dr. Somaweera’s work increasingly focuses on how conservation itself must evolve.

One of the most transformative tools, he said, is environmental DNA (eDNA) — the ability to detect species from genetic traces left in water, soil or even air.

“You no longer need to see the animal,” he explained. “A bottle of water can tell you what lives there.”

His team now uses eDNA to detect critically endangered snakes, turtles and sea snakes in some of Australia’s most remote regions. In one project, even children were able to collect samples.

“A 10-year-old can do it,” he said. “That’s how accessible this technology has become.”

The implications for countries like Sri Lanka are profound. From snakebite management to marine conservation, eDNA offers a low-impact, cost-effective way to monitor biodiversity — especially in hard-to-reach areas.

Dr. Somaweera ended his lecture with a message aimed squarely at young scientists.

“We already have a lot of data. What we lack is the next question,” he said. “So what? That’s the question that turns knowledge into action.”

After nearly two decades of research across continents, his message was clear: conservation cannot rely on assumptions, tradition or good intentions alone.

“It has to be evidence-based,” he said. “Because only action — informed by science — actually saves species.”

By Ifham Nizam ✍️

Life style

Driving the vision of Colombo Fashion Week

Published

4 days ago

2026/01/18

Thilina Walpola

Fazeena embodying confidence, culture and couture

Fazeena Rajabdeen

Fazeena Rajabdeen stands at the forefront of Sri Lanka’s fashion evolution as the Executive Director of Colombo Fashion Week.

With a visionary approach that bridges local talent with global opportunities, Fazeena has been instrumental in elevating Colombo Fashion Week into a sought-after platform for designers, buyers and industry innovators. In this interview, she shares insights on the growth of Sri Lanka’s fashion landscape, the challenges and triumphs of steering a major fashion event, and her aspirations for the future of the industry.

(Q) As Executive Director of Colombo Fashion Week, how do you define CFW’s role in shaping Sri Lanka’s fashion identity?

(A) CFW is fundamentally the backbone of Sri Lanka’s fashion industry. Over 23 years, we’ve built more than a platform, we’ve crafted an entire fashion ecosystem that didn’t exist before.

What I’m most proud of is that over 80% of the designers you see in Sri Lanka today have come through our development system. That’s not accidental, it’s the result of building infrastructure, including partnerships, brand development support, retail insights, and international networks. We’ve essentially created the conditions for a Sri Lankan fashion industry to emerge organically, rooted in our heritage but completely contemporary in its expression. This has resulted in the creation of few design education schools, fashion retailers, model academies.

CFW has given Sri Lankan fashion an identity that carries weight, one that speaks to craftsmanship, sustainability, and creative integrity. That’s the legacy we continue to build upon.

(Q) What has been your personal vision in steering Colombo Fashion Week over the years?

(A) My vision has always been about scale and sustainability, taking what was a seasonal event and building it into a year-round business ecosystem. My key focus was on developing the next generation through structured programs like emerging designers and CFW Accelerate, embedding responsibility into fashion through tools like the Responsible Meter, and expanding our reach with new editions and International partnerships.

We’ve moved from showcasing fashion to building the infrastructure that makes sustainable, commercially viable fashion careers possible in Sri Lanka. Another mission was to expand the platform so Sri Lankan designers aren’t just showing collections, they’re building brands that compete regionally, especially within South Asia.

(Q) Fashion Weeks globally are evolving. How has CFW adapted while staying true to its roots?

(A) The role of fashion platforms has evolved, as the development of fashion, the consumption of fashion and choices fashion consumers make has changed. At the core Fashion is an emotional choice hence engagement with fashion consumers remains high priority. CFW as a platform that leads the fashion industry, creates formats that effectively engage consumers with the fashion creators and with that open opportunities in Sri Lanka and internationally through BRICS, South Asia and Beyond. There are interesting new projects planned to push this forward.

(Q) How does CFW contribute to positioning Colombo as a regional fashion and lifestyle capital?

(A) CFW is known as a renowned South Asian Fashion Week and serves as a regional hub with its longstanding influence of 23 years in the region. That longevity alone has made us a reference point for South Asian fashion and we’ve become first-in-mind when people think of fashion here.

But it’s more than just presence. CFW has positioned the city with its synonymous brand name and interaction with influential people within the region as a lifestyle destination, not a peripheral market. That sustained visibility and the calibre of what we produce has put Colombo on the map as a regional capital where fashion, craft, and commerce intersect.

(Q) Sustainability and craftsmanship are growing conversations—How are those reflected in designer collections?

(A) Responsibility in fashion has been our cornerstone from the beginning. We’ve always championed Batik and traditional craft, and we’ve backed that with real resources through our craft funds.

What we’ve done differently is make sustainability measurable. The Responsible Meter we developed is a transparent scoring system that shows the environmental and social impact of each garment. Designers now build collections with accountability baked in from the start, not as an afterthought. This process is included in all emerging designer development processes.

(Q) Colombo Fashion Week has been a launch pad for many designers. What do you look for when curating talent?

(A) Above all—passion and drive. You can teach technique, refine a collection, connect someone to the right resources. But that hunger to build something, to push through the hard parts of turning creativity into a viable business That has to come from them.

We look for designers who understand that fashion is both art and commerce. They need a point of view, yes, but also the discipline to execute it consistently. The ones who succeed through CFW are the ones who see the platform as a starting point, not the finish line—they’re ready to put in the work to build a real brand, not just show a collection and continue with us in building that brand.

(Q) What role does CFW play in connecting Sri Lankan designers to global markets?

(A) CFW set out on a designer exchange programme through the BRICS International Fashion Federation, showcasing Sri Lankan talent at BRICS fashion weeks while welcoming international designers to Colombo. The platform positions Sri Lanka within the global fashion landscape while attracting international buyers and media. We have partnerships with the commonwealth countries and relevant fashion weeks. The interaction with global designers we invite during fashion week is primarily to focus on such interactions with Sri Lankan designers, opening doors for learnings and opportunities.

(Q) What can we expect from upcoming editions of CFW?

(A) Every edition has a unique focus to it and we work towards creating more expansion, more accessibility. We’re doubling down on our development programs, bringing in stronger international partnerships, deeper craft integration, and wider opportunities for designers at every stage.

We’re also looking at new formats and editions that create the Sri Lankan story in international markets.

We focus on being beyond a showcase; as the engine that drives Sri Lankan fashion forward regionally and globally. We’re building for scale and impact. The upcoming editions will reflect that ambition.

(Q) You have Co-founded the Ceylon Literary and Arts Festival, what inspired you to start and what was your original vision?

(A) It was a natural expansion, honestly. After years of building CFW and seeing the power of creative platforms, we realized there is space for the same thing for arts and literature, a space that celebrates Sri Lanka’s intellectual and cultural soft power.

The vision was simple: create a festival that puts Sri Lankan voices in conversation with regional and global thought leaders. Literature and the arts are incredible tools for cultural influence, and we weren’t leveraging that enough. Ceylon Literary and Arts Festival became that platform, a way to showcase our writers, artists, and thinkers while positioning Sri Lanka as a hub for meaningful cultural exchange.

It’s about soft power. Fashion opened doors, arts and literature deepened the conversation. Together, they tell a fuller story of who we are as a country.

(Q) What makes it unique in Sri Lanka’s cultural scene?

(A) It’s the ecosystem with its breadth and accessibility. We’ve built a festival that doesn’t silo creativity, it brings together literature, art, film, performing arts and music under one platform. That cross-pollination doesn’t really exist elsewhere in Sri Lanka at this scale.

What sets us apart is that we’ve made it deliberately accessible, students are free as our focus is the Youth. Projects and processes that empower the youth and foster creative talent from the grassroot.

(Q) What role does the festival play in promoting local writers, poets and literary talent?

(A) We platform both established names and emerging voices who haven’t had the visibility. The festival creates real dialogue and gives local talent stages they wouldn’t normally access.

We take the best of the world.

We’ve made it accessible, students get free entry, and we run a Children’s Festival for ages 5 to 11. It’s about building pathways early and giving Sri Lankan writers, poets, and creatives the exposure that launches careers.

Our winner of the first edition of the Future writers’ program, was recently awarded the acclaimed Gratiaen Award. We were happy we were able to mentor and pave the pathway for Savin and all future writers for the next generation.

(Q) What are the next dates to look out for?

(A) We have the HSBC Ceylon Literary and Arts Festival Edition 03 set to take place February 13th ,14th,15th 2026. This year’s Festival brings together creativity across all genres including the children’s festival, performing arts and Arts festival. We are proud to celebrate Sri Lankan and international Authors including the renowned author of the Bridgerton series Julia Quinn.

Following which the annual Summer edition of Colombo Fashion Week will take place in March 2026

This is for the start of 2026. looking forward to many exciting plans for the rest of the year.

Life style

The HALO Trust appoints Rishini Weeraratne as its Ambassador for Sri Lanka

Published

4 days ago

2026/01/18

Thilina Walpola

Focussed and Fearless

The HALO Trust, the world’s largest humanitarian landmine clearance organization, has appointed Rishini Weeraratne as its Ambassador for Sri Lanka. In her new role, she will support HALO’s global mission by raising awareness of mine action, strengthening advocacy efforts, and championing initiatives to protect communities impacted by landmines and unexploded ordnance, particularly in Sri Lanka. She will also play a key role in HALO’s international engagement and communications initiatives.

HALO began working in Afghanistan in 1988. Today HALO operates in more than 30 countries and territories across Africa, Asia, Europe and Caucasus, Latin America, and the Middle East. Its teams work daily to clear landmines, deliver risk education and restore land for agriculture, homes and infrastructure. HALO gained international recognition after Diana, Princess of Wales, visited its work in Angola in 1997 which helped accelerate support for the Mine Ban Treaty. Sri Lanka is one of HALO’s longest standing programmes. HALO has been operational in the island since 2002 and has cleared more than 300,000 mines and over one million explosive remnants of war, enabling thousands of families to return home safely. HALO is the second largest employer in the Northern Province, and its workforce is 99 percent locally recruited. Women make up 42 percent of the demining teams, reflecting HALO’s commitment to local empowerment and employment in post conflict communities.

Rishini Weeraratne, Ambassador for Sri Lanka, The HALO Trust:

“It is a privilege to support The HALO Trust’s mission. Although Sri Lanka is my home country and close to my heart, I am also committed to advocating for HALO’s work around the world. Millions of people live with the daily risk of landmines and unexploded ordnance. By raising awareness and amplifying the voices of affected communities, I hope to contribute to a safer future for families everywhere.”