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Provincial Social Welfare Ministers appreciate Minister Samaraweera's efforts

by Nadira Gunatilleke

Provincial Social Welfare Ministers appreciated the effort of Social Welfare Minister Ravindra Samaraweera to help his Provincial counter-part in the best possible way which is building a workable alliance with them and creating a supportive atmosphere so that the Provincial Ministers could render a better service in their areas, Social Welfare Ministry Secretary, Ms. Viji Jegarasasingam said.

Ms. Jegarasasingam said that the Provincial Social Welfare Ministers appreciated Minister Samaraweera's effort during a conference held at the Social Welfare Ministry in connection with the building of mutual understanding about the policies and programs of the ministry. This was the first time that a dialogue (conference) of this nature was held between Provincial Ministers of Social Services and the subject line Minister. It is more significant since the Provincial administration is with the opposition party, she said.

Provincial Social Welfare Ministers, their respective Provincial Secretaries, Provincial Commissioners of Probation and Child Care and the Directors of Social Services participated in this conference.

Minister Samaraweera promised to improve welfare activities in the North and East. Special programs have already drawn up to help the children in war-torn areas and border villages. The Provincial Ministers discussed the subject of the non-availability of required staff and the filling of vacancies, she added.

According to Ms. Jegarasasingam, the Finance Commission and the Department of Management Services undertook to approve the maximum staff enabling the Provincial children's and elderly homes to give a satisfactory service. A new proposal to offer the management of these homes to the private sector and reputed NGOs were discussed and adopted for further study.

It was spotlighted that some of the certified schools and Children's Remand Homes in Colombo, Galle and Kandy are catering to the requirements of the whole country. Inadequate financial provisions and the lack of proper cadre were highlighted by the Ministers.

It was also highlighted that the permissible age of marriage according to the legal provision has been prescribed to be over 18 years. The consenting age of being an adult has been legally allowed to be 16 years. Hence, this has created a problem that unmarried mothers of over 16 years of age in society cannot legally marry until reaching the age of 18.

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