Connect with us

News

The government is fully committed to ensuring the safety of children. – Prime Minister

Published

6 months ago

on

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]


Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

Heat Index at ‘Caution level’ in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts

Published

6 hours ago

on

2026/03/26

By

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of  Meteorology
at 3.30 p.m. on 25 March 2026, valid for 26 March 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in
Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry
of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

Continue Reading

News

US dodges question on AKD’s claim SL denied permission for military aircraft to land

Published

6 hours ago

on

2026/03/26

By

President

By Shamindra Ferdinando

A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Colombo declared that the United States and Sri Lanka maintain a long-standing defence partnership, grounded in transparency, mutual respect, and shared interests.

The official said so in response to The Island query regarding President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent bombshell disclosure, in Parliament, that his government declined to allow the US Air Force to use the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, following the eruption of the latest West Asia war.

We sought views of the US on President Dissanayake’s claim against the backdrop of Sri Lanka being a party to the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) since 2007. Sri Lanka extended the ACSA in 2017, for another 10-year period, and its extension comes up next year.

The President revealed that the US had requested permission to use Mattala, between 04 and 08 March.

Claiming that the request had been made on 26 February, two days before the war began, President Dissanayake said that the US had sought to land two aircraft, carrying eight anti-ship missiles, but that the request had been turned down to maintain Sri Lanka’s neutrality. The President revealed that the aircraft were to come from a US base in Djibouti.

The US embassy pokesperson explained that questions related to operational movements, including ‘Operation Epic Fury’, should be directed to the Department of War (DOW) in Washington.

Camp Lemonnier is the primary base of operations for US Africa Command in the Horn of Africa. China, too, has its only overseas military base in Djibouti in the vicinity.

Military sources said whatever various interested parties said about US-Sri Lanka relations, the former provided significant intelligence support during last phase of the conflict that enabled the Navy to hunt down floating LTTE arsenals in international waters. Of the eight LTTE vessels sunk, the US backed four hits with specific intelligence, sources said.

Continue Reading

News

No decrease in remittances from workers due to Gulf conflict, but significant drop in tourist arrivals – CB Governor

Published

6 hours ago

on

2026/03/26

By

CBSL Governor

Sri Lanka’s worker remittances had not seen a decrease despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Central Bank (CBSL) Governor, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said yesterday.

“Based on currently available data, they have not seen a decline in remittances. In fact, according to that we have observed, is a slight increase in remittances in the past few days, ” the Governor said at a media conference held at the Central Bank head office in Colombo.

Governor Weerasinghe also mentioned that he had not seen any reports about Sri Lankans returning to the country from the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict.

The Central Bank Governor, however, acknowledged that there had been a decrease in tourist arrivals. He confirmed that tourist arrivals had decreased by around 17 percent due to the current volatile situation in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has decided to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at the current level of 7.75%, following its latest Monetary Policy Board meeting.

By Hiran H Senewiratne

Continue Reading

Trending