ABOUT US


We are LEADSwhere children come first.

LEADS is a Sri Lankan agency established in 1978 and an approved charity dedicated to creating safer spaces and brighter futures for the children of Sri Lanka. Our work is integrated in recognising the child as a part of a family, community and the nation.

We work holistically towards the best interest of the child at national policy level and at grassroots with survivors of child abuse while strengthening families and communities of children at risk and providing necessary safeguards and support to reduce vulnerabilities to abuse, poverty and socio-natural disasters. Annually, a number of interventions and projects are conducted through LEADS’ departments of Child Protection, Community Transformation, Advocacy, Emergency Response and Training in line with LEADS’ strategy in Safeguarding Children, Empowering Communities and Responding to Emergencies.

We believe in touching lives to transform our communities and build our nation.

VISION

For Sri Lankan communities in need to experience the love of God

demonstrated through our compassionate and active services.

MISSION

To be a child-focused, compassionate, educative and active Christian resource agency,

working with the neglected, vulnerable and disadvantaged in community transformation,

reconciliation and restoration in a journey towards fullness of life.

OUR PRESENCE

Through our current and future areas of intervention, LEADS aims to redress pressing socioeconomic issues that negatively impact the living standards of marginalised and underprivileged communities across the country. The selected communities LEADS works with includes post-war communities, plantation communities, urban slum communities and those affected by poverty and poor living standards.

LEADS has an islandwide reach through its work in providing psychosocial support for survivors of child abuse and creating broader awareness towards preventing child abuse.

OUR HISTORY

Our beginnings were quite humble; LEADS was formed in response to a great need that arose following a cyclone in Sri Lanka. Over the years, we have responded to several socio-natural emergency situations that have arisen – from the 30-year civil war, to the Asian Tsunami of 2004, to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Today, LEADS has evolved to work holistically towards the best interests of the child at national policy level and at grassroots level working closely with children, families and communities towards creating a safer country for the children of Sri Lanka.

CHARITY STATUS AND REGISTRATION

LEADS is one of the few local non-governmental organisations to be registered as a state approved charity (Gazette No. 370 of 04.10.85). LEADS is also registered as a social service organisation at the National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations in the Ministry of Social Services in Sri Lanka (No: 11/41/407/84, L.11401/2000).

NETWORKS AND PARTNERSHIPS


BOARD OF DIRECTORS


Mr. Errol Abeyratne

Chairman

Mr. Yu Hwa Li

Treasurer

 Mr. Ragha Alphonsus

Director

Ms. Evangeline Ekanayake

Director

Ms. Rasika Mendis

Director

Ms. Sheila Richards

Director

Mr. Monroe Jayasuriya

Chief Executive Officer/Director