Lankan children enjoy numerous facilities - Dr Amunugama
Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE
Sri Lankan children are blessed with many facilities including health
and education, Senior Minister for International Monetary Cooperation Dr
Sarath Amunugama said yesterday.
The minister said that Sri Lanka is in the process of ushering a
better standard for children as the nation considers them wealth.
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State of the World’s Children Report 2012 was presented to
Senior Minister for International Monetary Cooperation Dr Sarath
Amunugama by UNICEF representative to Sri Lanka, Reza Hossaini.
Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Secretary to the
President
Lalith Weeratunga and UNICEF executive Machariya Kamavi were
also present. Picture by Nalin Hewapathirana |
Dr Amunugama was addressing the launch of the UNICEF report on State
of the World's Children 2012 at the Presidential Secretariat, Colombo.
The report was jointly launched by UNICEF and the Sri Lankan
government.
He said that the UNICEF report has focused on children in an urban
world. Minister Amunugama said that more children in Sri Lanka still
live beyond urban areas, though over half the world's population,
including over a billion children, now live in cities and towns. "While
many children, enjoy the advantages in urban life, too many children are
excluded. These children are deprived the opportunity to reach their
full potential; it denies their societies of the economic benefits of
having a well-educated and healthy urban population," Minister Amunugama
said.
UNICEF country representative Reza Hossaini said that children need
to enjoy their rights and quality services if they are to develop as
creative and productive individuals.
"It is important to improve our understanding of urban poverty and
that means better data and analysis to pinpoint problems. The commitment
that UNICEF witnessed towards the welfare of the children by the Sri
Lankan government is the main reason to select Sri Lanka to launch this
report," Hossaini said.
The report entitled "Children in an Urban World" says that in a few
years, the majority of children will grow up in town and cities rather
than in rural areas. Children born in cities already account for 60
percent of the increase in urban population.
When making urban policy and allocating resources, the needs of the
poorest can be overlooked, Hossaini added.
Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga delivering the welcome
speech said that the Sri Lankan government was pleased to be associated
with the joint launching of the UNICEF report. |
