All should unite to build a safe country for the children- President

President Maithripala Sirisena emphasized that all should fulfill their collective responsibilities to build a safe country for the children, who are the future of the nation.

‘The government is committed to ensure the protection of the children as well as to provide better education for them’, the President said, addressing the Polonnaruwa District Conference of Daruwan Surakimu (Let’s Protect Our Children) National Programme, held at the Polonnaruwa Royal College, on 10th Novermber.

Addressing the Conference, the President further emphasized that the all society including school, road and home should be a safe place for the children. The adults should provide protection for the children while understanding their behaviors properly and instead of taking decisions looking at the surface, they must examine the mental, physical and social issues faced by children, the President added.

The President said the government’s objective is to implement Daruwan Surakimu National Program island-wide and Rs. 5,240 million has been allocated for three years for this purpose. “I believe all government officers will act with responsibility to make this program a success”, he said and added a team consist of lawyers will be deployed island-wide to educate children in school and rural areas about the general law in the country and the laws to protect child rights.

The book ‘Daruwane Obava Surakinna’ published by the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs was presented to the President at this occasion.

Several programs including the modernization and reconstruction of five Children’s Home in the district, distribution of Reverse Osmosis water purification systems to 20 schools which lacks clean drinking water facilities, giving Rs.50,000 to selected 381 schools each under the Sustainable School Program, providing wheel chairs, canes, spectacles for differently-abled children, development of selected 45 Montessori and distribution of schools bags among 1,000 school children were also launched on this occasion.