Communication, Collaboration, and Innovation: The Value of Community-Based Approaches to COVID-19 in Sri Lanka

The purpose of the literature review is to provide background by; a) outlining the structure and success of the Sri Lankan public health system and its handling of COVID-19, b) exploring the value of community organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic in a global context, and c) engaging with existing literature on the role of community organizations in Sri Lanka. [...] The primary intention of the interviews was to gather the current professional perspectives on the impact and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic from both those that work within the public health sector as well as community organizations that potentially assisted with public health efforts. [...] Despite managing the first wave, the Sri Lankan public health system was challenged by the novelty of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently suffered at the hands of the second and third waves. [...] They viewed that the diversity of services and the multifunctional nature of the system allowed for a greater capacity to adapt in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. [...] Among a few of the unique approaches utilized by the organizations interviewed were the use of computerized community monitoring, the development of online learning technology, the writing of a childrens book explaining COVID-19, the organization of committee meetings of NGOs in the same action areas, and the mobilization of trusted religious leaders.