Sri Lanka

Introduction

Sri Lanka is popularly referred to as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. The island was renamed Sri Lanka, meaning "resplendent land" in Sanskrit in 1972. It has been called a variety of names in the past: Serendib, Ceylon, Teardrop of India, Resplendent Isle, Island of Dharma, Pearl of the Orient.

Population is estimated at 21,513,990.
There are various ethnic groups: Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%, Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)
Languages include: There are about 74% Sinhala (official and national language) , 18% Tamil (national language), 8%.other languages.
English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population
Sri Lanka suffered through a brutal civil war from 1983 to 2009. Despite the war, Sri Lanka saw GDP growth average nearly 5% in the last 10 years.

Sri Lanka Challenge & Bookwallah Organization's Role

Sri Lanka's long civil war and 2005 tsunami have left thousands of children orphaned. Currently, there are an estimated 330,000 orphans in Sri Lanka according to UNICEF. Our initial research has shown there is a strong desire by the children to get storybooks. English is commonly used in government. But, based on our experience, Bookwallah's primary focus is to provide storybooks to orphanages primarily in the local language with a complimentary English library through the Bookwallah Book. Additionally, Bookwallah would like to offer the Bookwallah Reading Rug Program for those orphanages that do not have separate child-friendly reading areas with complimentary Bookwallah Reading Services.

Current Project Consideration:

Bhaktivedanta Children's Home, Gokulam, Wattala Sri Lanka

Bookwallah Sri Lanka Contact Information

Contact:
TBD

Contact Information:
TBD
E-mail: srilanka@bookwallah.org

Sri Lanka

There are an estimated 330,000 orphans in Sri Lanka.