Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2017-09-12

Strengthening of the mechanism for the implementation of the Charter on the Child Rights

- Sri Lanka signed the Child Rights Convention and ratified same in the year 1991. As such, the Government of Sri Lanka is bound to ensure the rights of children to the maximum. The responsibility of giving effect to the commitments under the convention is vested with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and measures have been taken to give effect to the commitments through the Officers of the Department of Probation and Child Care Services, National Child Protection Authority, the Children's Secretariat and the Officers attached to the Divisional Secretary's Offices.

Steps had been taken in the year 2000 to establish Operational Committees at the National, District and Divisional Level for follow-up and reporting on the activities under Section 40 of the Convention. Taking into consideration the present requirement, the proposal made by Hon. (Mrs.) Chandrani Bandara, the Minister of Women and Child Affairs, to widen the composition and the functions of the Operational Committees, was approved by the Cabinet.