Sri Lanka striving to achieve a better future for every child

• = Children’s Day was firstly started in 1857 by Dr. Charles Leonard in the United Kingdom with the name “Rose Day”.
• =United Nations established Children’s Day in 1954.
• =United Nations provides a theme every year for children’s day.
• =Each country has established a date of their own choice for childrens’ day.

Sri Lanka celebrates Children’s Day annually on October 1. Celebration of this holiday raises public awareness about rights of children.The UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989 and it entered into force on September 2, 1990. Sri Lanka, as well as other member states signed the Convention that laid foundation for creation of Children’s Day in this country. Children are the key to prosperity and better future of the nation and the country. Taking care of children helps the State to raise its economy to new level.

Many events are organised for celebration of Children’s Day in Sri Lanka. Government and non-governmental institutions and corporates organise various competitions, entertaining events and games for children, who also receive gifts for participation. Newspapers, radio and television have also an opportunity to pay more attention to children and dedicate more programmes and articles to them and their problems.

COVID-19 pandemic has left long-lasting impressions on children’s minds. Online studies, staying at home and restrictions on outdoor physical activities have changed their behaviors. Now post-pandemic challenges include the improvement of children’s behaviors as well. Encouraging actions from parents and teachers can build healthier changes in their behaviors.

COVID-19 lockdowns affected the health of children and created physical fitness problems for them. Staying at home and usage of fast, junk-food and lack of physical activities caused laziness and weight gain in them. Physical training instructors in schools should take serious steps to overcome this challenge of children. Diet and nutrition experts should add their valuable knowledge of healthy foods. It will enhance the kids’ physical and mental performance. All these activities can help children to recover faster from strenuous conditions.

Further, World Children’s Day is an awareness day to children against violence in forms of abuse, exploitation, and discrimination. Children are used as laborers in some countries, immersed in armed conflict, living on the streets, suffering by differences be it religion, minority issues, or disabilities.

Notably, “Athwela” the parent sponsored child support scheme organised by Department of Probation and Child Care Services and Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment was launched on August 3, 2022.

Identifying the most vulnerable children through mapping and making interventions under the risk reduction programme, “Raise before Risk”, was conducted on 21st and 22nd September 2022 at Sarvodaya branches in Jaffna and Batticaloa. The programme was conducted for Child Rights Promotion Officers, Child Rights Promotion Assistants and for field officers of World Vision serving in Northern and Eastern Provinces. Resource contribution for the programme was provided by Thanuja Sahanthi Balasooriya, Ratnapura district Child Rights Promotion Officer, and the financial sponsorship was provided by World Vision Lanka. The programme was conducted in partnership with World Vision.

Interestingly, the Department of Probation and Child Care Services of the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment received over 3,000 entries for the children’s painting competition organised to mark World Children’s Day 2022.

The selection of paintings was conducted on 23rd August 2022 at the Department of Probation and Child Care Services premises by a competent panel of judges consisting of Sarath Gunasiri, senior lecturer, Suneth Priya Aravinda, senior lecturer and Isuru Suren, assistant lecturer of the University of Visual and Performing Arts.