Child Labour becomes a burning problem in Sri Lanka. This is mostly visible
in semi-urban areas.It is a common issue in South Asia. As a Sri Lankan I
have facts of several instances and I wish to contribute to this
issue. Parentless children, Poverty, Broken families are some of them.

To find a solution for the problem is another problem to poor developing countries.
As a Sri Lankan teacher I've found several cases in my school.The most
interesting case is Sashidharan,a boy of 14 years.

In his family he has his father(a drunkard),mother, a brother and a sister who are younger tohim. Sashidaran (at the moment he has left my school without giving any
reason) had to support his family. His father came home once a month or very
rarely.His mother had to earn their living.

They are Hindus. When his mother found there was no protection from her beloved
husband she had given their dog her breast milk with a few drops of her own blood.
By doing this she expected her husband's protection from this animal. This is some what a
peculiar thing. I have learnt how much we can learn from different
cultures.

Sashidharan is a Hindu as well as a Buddhist. The majority of my
school are Buddhists. But we respect other religions and their cultural
values. This boy helped teachers on my staff to introduce Hindu culture and
Hindu traditions. On Thaipongal day he showed how the Hindus observe this
festival performing all the rituals related to Hindu culture.

Though he was a Hindu by birth he didn't go to a Hindu Temple to learn his religion .
Instead he went to "dhamma" school at the world famous Buddhist temple called
Aluwihare Temple where "Thripitaka" was written.

Some days I found Sashidheran not coming to school for days. I asked him for
the reason and at first he was reluctant to reveal the reason. Later he
divulged the truth. When his mother was ill he had to go to the stone quarry
to earn their living. Many a times he had missed his break-fast or lunch or
both meals. On many occasions he had stayed in hunger and given the meals to
his brother and sister.

When the school had the sports-meet he was the first to come to school and
do jogging. At that time I didn't know that he was jogging without
break-fast. Being a teacher of English I put my maximum effort to help him. I
started to share the lunch with him, as soon as the other children got to
know they scolded him and he didn't want to share my lunch.

After the August school vacation I didn't see him. Heard that he was going to
leave the school. One day he came with his mother to get his leaving
certificate. I asked him why he was going to leave? He was silent. He
worshipped me and left the College. Nobody knows his reason of leaving the
school. Isn't he a VICTIM OF CHILD LABOUR.?

Palitha Aluthdunne
Matale

Sri Lanka