The RHIYA was designed on the basis of the experience and lessons learned from the RHI. It consolidated the gains from the previous programme and expanded services to several other areas in order to reach a broader segment of adolescents and youth.

The RHIYA Sri Lanka programme employed a holistic approach in each intervention area with advocacy activities aimed at the district, community and gatekeeper level to increase acceptance for ASRH interventions. At the same time, IEC activities included volunteer based peer education, and aimed to increase levels of awareness of ASRH issues among adolescents and youth themselves and raised the demand for services. Peer educators also functioned as community-based distributors for contraceptives. The provision of counseling through dedicated counseling service points and clinical services through medical practitioners based in clinics working in each project area and operating under a built-in referrals system, were also key elements of the intervention.

The RHIYA Sri Lanka took on-board recommendations made in evaluations and reviews of the RHI and amongst other improvements included more emphasis on male participation, closer coordination with health and educational authorities, strengthened community based distribution of contraceptives and an increased focus on capacity building with both local authorities and NGOs. It targeted adolescents and youth who are vulnerable and have high levels of unmet needs, especially those living in export processing zones, in areas affected by the tourist trade, in conflict affected areas and in plantation areas. Access to suitable SRH information and services is very limited for young people living in these areas.

The major problem areas addressed by the RHIYA in Sri Lanka were:

A. Insufficient political and community level support for adolescent and youth SRH interventions. (Meeting the SRH needs of young people in Sri Lanka is still a relatively new and sensitive subject in Sri Lanka and community support and recognition will be the key for success)

B. Youth and adolescents, in particular in the Northern areas affected by the past civil strife, have limited access to appropriate RH information to help them adopt responsible sexual and reproductive health behaviours.

C. Limited access to quality RH services, including preventive counselling

D. Insufficient capacity of government and NGOs/CBOs to plan, implement and manage effective ASRH interventions, in particular in the Northern areas where the health infrastructure is still very weak.