A new programme has been introduced to support the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children living in temporary relief centres in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah. Named “Beyond Recovery,” the initiative was launched this week in the Badulla District at shelters set up at Morahela Maha Vidyalaya and Kanugolla Sumanarama Viharaya, where displaced families are currently staying.

The core aim of Beyond Recovery is to provide much-needed psychological support and encouragement for young people who have faced traumatic disruption to their lives due to the devastating cyclone. It combines activities designed to help children express emotions, build resilience and regain a sense of normalcy while remaining in safety centres.

Organisers and mental health experts are collaborating with volunteers to deliver sessions that focus on emotional wellbeing, coping skills and peer engagement. The pilot project in Badulla is planned to expand to additional relief centres in the coming days, ensuring broader reach to communities in need.

The mental health drive comes as part of wider national and humanitarian efforts to support families affected by one of Sri Lanka’s most destructive climate disasters of the year.