Funday Times

National Year for Children
By Chandani Kirinde
The Government of President Mahinda Rajapakse has taken several new steps to give a better life to the children of Sri Lanka. After being elected to office in November last year, the President created for the first time a ministry especially for children called the Ministry of Child Welfare and named Mrs. Sumedha Jayasena as it's Minister.

The Government then decided to name 2006 as the "National Year for Children". The Children's year was formally launched by the President two weeks ago under the theme "A caring hand through childhood's land."
President Rajapakse said at the function that it is his dream to see that children whether they are Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims or Burghers all live as sisters and brothers throughout the country, from Dondra to Point Pedro.
The President also said he has asked the Ministry of Child Welfare to take steps to establish a Children's Parliament as well as Children's Municipal Councils and Pradeshiya sabhas through which children could express their views and could be heard.

Most of the Government programmes will be based on international conventions on children. In 1989, Sri Lanka was among the first 20 countries to sign the United Nations sponsored International agreement on the Rights of the Child which recognises the rights of children in every part of the world to live without discrimination and have access to education, health care and other social facilities.

During this year there will be many Government sponsored programme for the benefit of children including those dealing with their health, education, moral development as well their other needs. There will also be competitions and exhibitions for children as a part of these activities.

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