Children and women are ultimate victims of war - Education Minister

Rafik Jalaldeen

COLOMBO: Education Minister Susil Premajayantha on Wednesday appealed to terrorists to renounce violence and consider the destruction it causes to the lives of children and their future.

”It is children and women who suffer as a consequence of civil war, the Minister said at the launch of a programme titled “Rewrite the Future” under the auspices of Save the Children at the BMICH. The programme calls on the Government and donors to support the education of children in countries affected by armed conflict.

Addressing the ceremony Minister Susil Premajayantha said “this is our biggest challenge in the millennium goal. The country is facing conflict and children are the victims of this conflict. “I am glad that the Save the Children have chosen Sri Lanka to implement ‘Rewrite the Future’ project, he said.

“I appeal to all world leaders and donors to contribute towards this project.

This call is not only for the world leaders but also to the terrorists to stop the violence giving consideration to the children and their lives. They are the victims of armed conflict,” Minister Premajayantha said.

Sri Lanka’s literacy levels are higher compared to other countries affected by armed conflict.

The literacy level has reached 92.5 per cent in Sri Lanka even amidst decades of war.” We offer free education with all facilities from grade one to the first degree,” he added.

“I ask, who is recruiting children? Who are those who kill children? Who is chasing the civilians from their homes?” the queried.

Around 43 million children had left their school as a result of the armed conflict.

The aim of Save the Children is to work in 20 countries to ensure that 3 million children get back to school.

Director-Policy and Communication of Save the Children Phil Esmonde said their aim was to improve the quality of education for 5 million school children by 2010, in 40 countries throughout the world.

“In Sri Lanka there are over 900,000 children believed to be living in conflict areas and 300,000 children are internally displaced. Children drop out of school in Sri Lanka due to insecure school environment and lack of teachers and materials.

Save the Children will work closely with the Education Ministry and with other education authorities in Sri Lanka,” Esmonde said.

“We call upon the world leaders and donors to contribute towards the “Rewrite the Future” project. To achieve our goal in countries affected by armed conflict we need an extra US$ 5 billion.

The children are the future of the country and the world leaders”, he added.