Everyone, everywhere in Sri Lanka should have access to the health services they need, both in their everyday lives and during emergencies. As a premier humanitarian organization in the country, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) operates across the island to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable populations, ensuring that health remains a cornerstone of human dignity and humanitarian assistance.
As an auxiliary to the government, SLRCS supports community health across the entire lifespan, bridging the gap between disaster management and long-term sustainable development. We believe that health is an inalienable right of all people—regardless of race, religion, colour, nationality, sex, or origin.
Our extensive scope of health and care activities includes:
Providing essential primary health care services and developing sustainable local health infrastructure to meet the wider medical needs of communities.
Actively ensuring vulnerable groups have access to clean, safe water and adequate sanitation facilities to prevent disease outbreaks.
Training and empowering communities in First Aid to save lives, protect health, alleviate suffering, and prevent disability during accidents and crises.
Incorporating a vital psychosocial perspective into every area of our interventions to protect the mental and social well-being of both affected populations and our care providers.
Actively assisting the National Blood Transfusion Service through the recruitment of voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors.
Scaling up efforts to fight communicable diseases (such as HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis), while actively advocating for the destigmatization, protection, and upliftment of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
While Sri Lanka continues to make progress in public health, global and local challenges—ranging from climate change and urbanization to emerging infectious diseases—threaten to widen the gap in social justice and healthcare equity. Poverty and high healthcare costs can still push vulnerable families to the brink.
In response, the SLRCS aligns its actions with holistic, community-led interventions. Because our dedicated network of volunteers lives within the very communities they serve, our health programs are inherently participatory. We focus heavily on health literacy, empowering communities to take control of their own health determinants, build social cohesion, and foster long-term resilience against public health emergencies.
When disasters strike, physical, mental, and social health care are seamlessly integrated into our immediate humanitarian response. However, we look beyond the crisis. SLRCS ensures that health services provided during prolonged emergencies are intentionally designed to transition into stable, integrated, community-based primary health systems. By preparing and training local branches and volunteers for rapid response, we build a safer, healthier, and more resilient Sri Lanka.
First aid is a vital humanitarian act, essential for supporting healthy and resilient communities across Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) is the nation’s leading provider and trainer in first aid, empowering individuals with the essential skills needed to save lives, alleviate suffering, and protect health when every minute counts.
First aid is not a skill reserved solely for healthcare professionals – it is a vital life tool that everyone needs in their everyday lives. Whether at home, in the workplace, or within the community, emergencies strike when least expected. Millions of people worldwide experience sudden illness or injury stemming from everyday accidents, chronic health crises, or natural disasters. When professional medical help is not immediately available, a trained passer-by or family member becomes the critical first link in the chain of survival. First aid empowers you to save lives.
