President launches ‘Suraksha Insurance Scheme’ for children

President Maithripala Sirisena launched ‘Suraksha Insurance Scheme’, a new insurance programme for the betterment of the children in the country. The ceremony was held at the Temple Trees, today.

“Current government is following the United Nations and international charters, agreements and statements on children while fulfilling a comprehensive task beyond that for the children of the nation”, he said.

Suraksha which is an accident insurance, introduced under the theme Sada Surakimu Daye Daruwan is free for all school children in the country. This is implemented by the Ministry of Education.

Speaking further, President Sirsena said the government, in line with its policies, implemented number of programs for children throughout last two and half years. He said the government is giving priority to the safety and the future of the children.

The insurance covers 4,500,000 children of 11,242 schools throughout 24 hours. The Ministry of Education and Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation will provide special benefits to the children under this insurance scheme. The objective of this insurance scheme is to make the school children healthy and pave them way to get the utmost use of the educational opportunities.

President Sirisena symbolically handed over documents of insurance to Buddhist monks, studying at pirivenas and some school children.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Ministers Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Kabhir Hashim, Vajira Abeywardena, Rauf Hakim, Ravi Karunanayake, Daya Gamage, Sarath Fonseka, State Minister P. Radhakrishnan, Ruwan Wijeywardena and the Secretary to the Ministry of Education Sunil Hettiarachchi were among those participated in this occasion.