Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya affirmed  the government’s full commitment to safeguarding children and clarified that the law against corporal punishment should not be seen as a law against discipline, but as a law against violence.

Prime Minister made these remarks on Wednesday (01) at Temple Trees, addressing the ceremony organized by the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs to mark World Children’s Day under the theme “Nurture with Love – to lead the World.”

A commemorative stamp and first-day cover were also issued in this occasion.

Addressing the gathering the Prime Minister further stated:

“When taken proportionally, the child population in our country represents nearly 31% of the total population. As a government, we bear a great responsibility towards them.

The theme of this year’s World Children’s Day is ’Nurture with Love – to lead the World.’ The foremost duty we must fulfill for children is to ensure their safety.

By safety I mean, despite the background or circumstances that children may live under, the responsibility falls to ensure the safety of all children, without leaving anyone behind, while enabling them to live freely in an economically, socially, and psychologically secured environment.

As a government that upholds the principle of ’A Safe World for Children – A Creative Future Generation,’ we are already working to the fullest extent to ensure their safety.

Particularly over the past year, the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs has accomplished much more for children by formulating laws for their welfare and social protection, preparing policies, strategies, programs, and projects to ensure children’s well-being along with conducting follow-ups and evaluations.

Accordingly, under the previous budget proposals, several important decisions were made, including a monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000 for institutionalized children and street children, as well as initiating the establishment of digital facilities-equipped testimony rooms to enable victimized children to provide testimony safely.

In addition, eliminating all forms of violence against children has received the special attention of the government.

As an extension of that, the Bill concerning corporal punishment of children is to be presented in Parliament. Various opinions and debates have emerged regarding this Bill and such discussions are necessary when drafting laws.

There is no point in formulating laws which do not concern the country and the people.

However, we must be mindful in these debates. The expectation behind the amendment to the Corporal Punishment Act is to stand against violence, not against discipline. If children misbehave or conduct themselves wrongly in society, it is natural that elders, teachers, and parents intervene to guide them back to the right path.

Elders do not resort to violence to guide children. I do not believe that schools impose violence in order to maintain discipline. Likewise, this amendment is not against maintaining discipline in schools.

We are not seeking to punish elders, teachers, or parents for guiding children. Our goal is to prevent children themselves from ending up in prison.

It is the government’s expectation to build a talented and sensitive younger generation who learn under the guidance of compassionate and caring teachers.”

The event was attended by Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs Ms. Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Minister of Justice and National Integration Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara, Deputy Minister Dr. Namal Sudarshana, along with several other ministers, secretaries of ministries, officials, foreign representatives, and a large number of children and parents.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]