In Sri Lanka, a great necessity exists for community development services. Women and children are a major part of this category that needs special attention and care. To fulfill this long-standing need, a group of young social workers experienced from National Youth Services Council (NYSC) of Sri Lanka voluntarily initiated child development activities within several DS Divisions in Anuradhapura district. Institute of Rural Social Development (IRSD) was established by above youths in year 2000 to continue their services to the needy communities in Sri Lanka.

IRSD is a non-governmental, non-religious, non-political, non-racial, non-profit organization working in Sri Lanka for nearly 12 years. Its development programs principally aim at socially & economically backward marginalized & minority communities plus displaced, affected and victimized people.

IRSD was later registered as a professional / voluntary social service organization at District Secretariat of Anuradhapura district under the registration number ANU/DS/3/6/3/3-1/2006 on the date of 5^th July 2006.