Protecting Children Is a National Priority: Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya

25-Jun-2026

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Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya stated that child protection is not merely a sectoral issue but a national priority embedded within Sri Lanka's broader framework of development, governance and social justice.

She made these remarks at the inaugural session of the South Asian Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children (EVAC), which commenced in Colombo on June 23.

The two-day conference, organised jointly by SAARC, UNICEF's South Asia Regional Office, the World Health Organization's regional offices, and the Office of the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children, brought together ministers, senior government officials and development partners from across the region.

The conference aims to strengthen commitments, share progress and accelerate action to ensure that every child grows up in a safe and violence-free environment.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Sri Lanka's commitment to adopting systematic approaches to ending violence against children.

She stressed that schools play a vital role not only as centres of learning but also as important spaces for child protection, early detection of abuse, psychosocial support and intervention.

Sri Lanka continues to strengthen school-based child protection systems, including referral mechanisms, counselling services and safeguarding protocols, she said.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, noting that child protection challenges transcend national borders and require sustained collaboration and shared learning among countries.