Sulabh School Sanitation Club Inaugurates Sri Lanka's First Period-Friendly Toilet Complex

Gampaha, Sri Lanka | 14 June 2026: The Sulabh School Sanitation Club (SSSC), a flagship initiative of the Sulabh International School of Action Sociology and Sociology of Sanitation (SISASSS), marked a significant milestone with the inauguration of Sri Lanka's first period-friendly toilet complex at Parackrama National School, Gampaha. Implemented in collaboration with the India–Sri Lanka Foundation (ISLF), the initiative reflects a shared commitment to promoting menstrual hygiene, dignity, and inclusive sanitation for school-going girls.

The inauguration formed part of the Valedictory Programme of the One-day Participatory WASH in Schools Initiative, which engaged over 200 students and 20 teachers from Parackrama National School and Senarath School in interactive sessions on hygiene, sanitation, and behavioural change. Through the Sulabh School Sanitation Club, students were encouraged to become ambassadors of hygiene and environmental stewardship within their schools and communities.

The programme was inaugurated by Mr. Kumar Dilip, President, Sulabh International and Mentor of the Sulabh School Sanitation Club, in the distinguished presence of Mr. T. B. Sarath, Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, Sri Lanka; Mr. Eric Luxman Ediriwickrama, Mayor of Gampaha District; and Ms. Swati, Third Secretary, High Commission of India to Sri Lanka.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Kumar Dilip emphasised that sanitation infrastructure must go beyond construction to ensure accessibility, dignity, and inclusion for all.

"The construction of washrooms alone is not enough—what truly matters is that they are accessible, inclusive, and convenient for all. Through the Sulabh School Sanitation Club, we are empowering young people to champion hygiene, dignity, and positive social change while creating healthier and more inclusive communities."

The newly refurbished period-friendly toilet complex has been designed to support Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) by providing girls with safe and private sanitation facilities, access to sanitary napkins, improved handwashing infrastructure, and awareness on menstrual hygiene. The initiative aims to ensure that no girl misses out on education due to inadequate sanitation facilities or a lack of awareness, while fostering a supportive school environment built on dignity, privacy, and equality.

The programme reinforces the Sulabh School Sanitation Club's commitment to advancing Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) through practical, student-led interventions that improve health, well-being, and educational outcomes.

The dignitaries commended the initiative as a model of India–Sri Lanka cooperation. Mr. T. B. Sarath appreciated the vision behind the programme and called for similar initiatives to be expanded across Sri Lanka. Mr. Eric Luxman Ediriwickrama noted that such programmes help students develop lifelong habits of hygiene and responsibility, while Ms. Swati highlighted the importance of India–Sri Lanka partnerships in promoting shared learning, community development, and people-to-people ties.

Teachers and school authorities welcomed the initiative, observing that the period-friendly facilities would positively impact the attendance, comfort, and dignity of girl students. Students described the WASH sessions as engaging and eye-opening, expressing greater confidence in promoting hygiene awareness among their peers. The programme concluded with the distribution of prizes to winners of the Poster Making Competition and recognition of outstanding participants from Parackrama and Senarath Schools.