HOW A CHILD FROM BANDARAWELA CHOSE TO SELL ‘DODOL’ OVER EDUCATION TO MAKE ENDS MEET

Social media had been abuzz with the news of a child selling dodol (a sweet, toffee-like confection popularly made in Sri Lankan households) in Bandarawela. Following the social media post published by an individual with the intention of helping the child and his family, there have been mixed reactions towards this gesture of kindness.

- By Kamanthi Wickramasinghe

Some argued that the child's privacy was violated since his photo was posted on Facebook, while some appreciated the effort to support a family in need. But the Daily Mirror learned that with the social media hype and media attention, the family is now facing a level of vulnerability in getting on with their day-to-day life.

A life full of hardships

The boy (12) is a student of Kahagolla Vidyalaya, Diyatalawa and lives with his grandmother, Aisha Beebi (54) and sister, aged 10, who is preparing for her scholarship exam, in Kahagolla, Diyatalawa. Both these children were abandoned by their parents at a very young age, and it was Beebi who had been looking after them. Beebi makes sweets, mainly dodol, for a living. While the sister attends school, this boy has developed a habit of selling dodol made by his grandmother in the town, as a means of helping her to carry out her business.

"Now we are facing more issues" - Beebi