Children's Day is an event celebrated on various days in many places around the world. International Children's Day is celebrated on June 1 and Universal Children's Day is on November 20 and in Sri Lanka, it is commemorated on the 1st of October each year.
Hon. President Maithripala Sirisena stated in his message “We are universally bound to provide proper nutrition and healthcare to all children, ensure their right to education and create a space for them to be born and brought up in a safe environment. However, as a nation, we cannot be satisfied about the ensuring of all these needs of our children. Sri Lanka has to overcome the challenges in the areas of child nutrition, education, child abuse and violence against children”
The Presidential Secretariat launched the programme “Daruwan pana men surakimu” to emphasise the need to protect children in respect of this day.
In celebration of this day, the Outreach Unit of FPA Sri Lanka with support from the Maradana Service Delivery Point organized a fun filled programme for over 60 children belonging to the Saman Abeygunarathne Pre-School, together with their parents, on the 1st of October. Mr Saman Abeygunarathe - Former Member - Colombo Municipal council, former National Council President and current Vice President, Dr. Pramilla Senanayake and Executive Director Ms Thushara Agus were special invitees to this event where even the parents were active participants in presenting entertaining skits for the crowd. Exciting gifts and tokens were distributed to the children at close.