Thousands of families still use open areas instead of toilets

• 4,518 households in Colombo District use public toilets
• 207 families in Colombo District do not use any toilets at all
• Nuwara Eliya District has the highest rate of shared toilet use (5.2%)
• Census reveals persistent sanitation gaps as thousands lack access to toilets
•  Colombo tops public toilet use; Nuwara Eliya struggles with shared sanitation
•  Experts warn rural sanitation inequality threatens national hygiene gains
• Call for urgent action to ensure every Sri Lankan household has a private toilet
• Out of 6,111,315 family units a total of 13,326 households continue to live without access to toilet facilities
• Around 0.2 percent rely on public toilets, and another 0.2 percent use open areas

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama   

Despite Sri Lanka’s impressive progress in hygiene and sanitation, more than 13,000 families still defecate in open areas such as forests and beaches, according to the Department of Census and Statistics.  

The latest Basic Information Report on Housing by District and Divisional Secretariat Divisions from the 2024 Population and Housing Census reveals that 0.2 percent of the country’s 6,111,315 family units a total of 13,326 households continue to live without access to toilet facilities.  

The report also shows that 92.2 percent of households have private toilets, while 5.8 percent share facilities with other families. Around 0.2 percent rely on public toilets, and another 0.2 percent use open areas.  

Colombo District records the highest number of families using public toilets, totaling 4,518, while 207 families in the district do not use any toilets at all. Nuwara Eliya District has the highest rate of shared toilet use (5.2%), reflecting sanitation challenges in plantation areas.  

Public health experts warn that these gaps in access to sanitation, especially in rural regions such as Batticaloa, pose long-term risks to health and hygiene. They urge authorities to strengthen rural sanitation programs and improve infrastructure to ensure safe and private toilets for every household.