Lanka meets UN targets on children

Disna Mudalige

Sri Lanka has been able to build an atmosphere of peace and non violence for children. It has set an example by achieving the target of the United Nation's Decade for the Children of the World 2001 - 2011, said Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody.

He was addressing a Commemoration Ceremony for the United Nations Decade of Building a Culture of Peace and Non Violence for the Children of the World 2001- 2010 and The International Year of Youth 2010 - 2011. It was held at the National Museum Auditorium yesterday. This was organized by Sri Lanka United Nations Friendship Organization (SUNFO) and Child Development and Women's Affairs Ministry.

He said that children in the country underwent many hardships and faced difficult situations mainly due to terrorism, this misery was brought to an end due to the united effort as a country under President Mahinda Rajapaksa's leadership, Weerakkody said.

"There were child soldiers and this was a fact that was beyond the control of the government. Many lost their parents and were displaced. Today we can proudly say that there is no single child soldier in this country. We have been able to witness a generation that grows up happily. This government's policy is to provide the best for our children and make best living standards for them," he said.

Weerakkody observed that the country has almost achieved Millennium Development Goals, with very low infant and maternity mortality rates and very high literacy rate compared to other countries.

"Today almost every child in the country is born in an hospital or in a medical institution with proper care and protection. When considering the literary, our next target is to improve the Information Technology literacy rate and a special program has been launched for this task," he noted.

The Deputy Speaker also pointed out that it was a privilege for the country to host the South Asian Youth Peace Camp at the conclusion of the "International Year of Youth" which was declared on August 15, 2010. A building has been constructed in Moratuwa to hold this event.

SUNFO Human Responsibility Appreciation Award was presented to SOS- Kinderorf International President Helmut Kutin and SUNFO Goodwill Ambassador Award for Child Development was presented to SOS- Kinderorf International Asia Deputy Secretary General Siddhartha Kaul by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sumedha G Jayasena during this occasion.

SUNFO Director General Dr Deshapriya Wijetunga, SUNFO Bangladesh Corporative Alliance Special Representative Srilal Laksiri Perera, Goodwill Ambassador Lalitha Ranatunge and Colombo University Sociology Department Prof Siri Hettige also spoke.