• Says protecting children is the prime responsibility of a Government 

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said participation of children at public protests must be prohibited, noting that it is a serious offence to use children as shields in demonstrations. 

“Although the laws of the country seek to protect children, parents are bringing children to protests for vengeance, similar to what late LTTE Leader Prabhakaran did during the war,” he said at a special discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday on the protection of children’s rights.

President Wickremesinghe advised the Sri Lanka Police to take immediate measures to prevent the perpetuation of such conduct.

Reading excerpts from Sub-Section 13 of Article 27 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, the President pointed out that: “The state shall promote with special care the interest of children and youth so as to ensure their full development physical, mental, moral, religious, and social, and to protect them from exploitation and discrimination,” he emphasised that protecting children is the prime responsibility of a Government.

The President insisted on the need for an Act to protect children’s rights to prevent them from being used for sexual activities and protect their fundamental rights. He also advised the officials to discuss this issue with the Attorney General in order to take necessary steps in this regard.

Attention was also drawn to the detention of the children, who were among the arrested for trying to migrate illegally to India and was therefore separated from their parents. He said that this situation needs to be rectified immediately and arrangements made to return the children to their parents. 

The President also requested special attention to be paid to the education of children in orphanages and protection of their rights and advised the officials to submit a report on those with special needs in such institutions.

President Wickremesinghe pointed out the need to provide formal training to those in charge of these children’s homes in order to avoid facing difficult situations. 

Women and Children’s Affairs State Minister Geeta Kumarasinghe, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake and Government officials of line institutions were present at this discussion. 

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