There is some confusion in Sri Lankan law as to the definition of a “child.” Different laws define a “child” differently. The police take the initial steps with a juvenile offender, and the relevant reports are supplied by the Department of Probation and Childcare services. The aims of institutional rehabilitation are the mental development of children, increasing development of professional training opportunities, molding towards good qualities, and making an individual acceptable to society. The Children and Young Persons Ordinance (CYPO) is the basic law dealing with children and provides for the establishment of juvenile courts. A “child” cannot be imprisoned, while “young persons” can be imprisoned only if the court certifies that they are so “unruly” or “depraved” that they cannot be institutionalized. Alternatives to imprisonment are remand homes and certified schools. The institutional treatment and the community based treatment processes are interconnected in the proceedings of rehabilitation of juvenile offenders. Individual case files are maintained for juvenile offenders admitted to the institutes. Every 2 months a case committee is held to discuss the child’s progress. Supervision in the home environment of children that have completed the vocational training and education is the goal. When the institutional treatment method is adopted, the department is confronted with numerous problems. These problems are a shortage of institutes, children not accepted by guardians after rehabilitation, financial constraints, staffing, and congestion. Community based treatment methods are probation service, supervision orders, and after-care programs. Adopting the community-based treatment method also has its problems. These problems are a shortage of efficient and trained staff, limited public participation, the family environment in unpleasant state, or inadequate attention from courts towards this method. Recommendations to improve these situations include recruitment of trained and dedicated staff, contribution from State and voluntary organizations, and gaining more public participation. 4 references