A program organized by the Children's Unit of the District Secretariat, with the aim of resolving the progress, issues and problems, taking into account the measures and activities taken for the development of children and women in Division 11 of the Kegalle District, was held on 2025.06.19 at the District Secretariat Auditorium under the patronage of Additional District Secretary Kusumbandara (Administration) and Assistant District Secretary Malsha L. Priyadarshani.
Among the committees held at the District Secretariat, the Children and Women Committee has drawn attention to various problems existing in the district. The aim of this meeting was to resolve the issues arising from the committees held at the Divisional Secretariat level and the issues arising regularly through the District Committee, to direct the relevant parties to obtain positive answers, and to discuss the unresolved issues and problems at length and in depth and find answers. After explaining the objectives of the Additional District Secretary, a review was conducted on the issues discussed in the meeting held on 25.03.2025.
Among the main issues discussed in the last meeting were the establishment of rural nutrition committees, preparation of birth certificates for children without birth certificates, starting a special education unit at Ke / Dehi / Seelananda Maha Vidyalaya, discussing health nutrition and mental development - sexually transmitted diseases under the subject of child protection and development, external assistance, drug prevention, and programs under the Dangerous Drugs Control Board. Under this, the voluntary referral of clients addicted to various drugs, organized by Father Thotawattage, the External Service Assistant of the National Board for Dangerous Drugs Control, to A. F. P. J. M. Centers, referral to psychiatric units and treatment, community-based mobile services on drug prevention under various sectors to garment - industries - workers - school children - parents and other sections of the education sector, and awareness and counseling meetings are being held. In addition, 24 voluntarily identified clients have already been referred to treatment units. 39 programs have been conducted introducing the community treatment method and so far 7059 communities have been informed about the drug prevention treatment process. The aim of this is to keep drug addicts in the community and treat them.
In addition, the discussion was held on the intervention in child abuse, education sector - trust, protection and socialization of institutionalized children, street children, elimination of child labor, and other programs carried out by NGOs (Sarvodaya, Plantation Human Development Trust, Peace and Mercy Foundation). Also, women's development issues were discussed at the divisional level, and the progress of Bulathkohupitiya and Galigamuwa Women's Development Officers presented their progress and discussed the problems at the divisional level.
Malmitak to the role of Divisional Secretariats
In the Seethawaka division, the police stations have the responsibility of identifying vulnerable children and a large number of crimes have been reported, and W. G. of the Prevention Bureau, Divisional Children and Women's Division, who participated in the Seethawaka division, together with the probation officers, represented the Seethawaka division on child protection. Ms. Dharma Niroshani
further said that she would present a bouquet of flowers to the Divisional Secretariats for the support provided to the police by the Child Rights Promotion Officers, Advisory Officers and all other officers of the Divisional Secretariats.
All Divisional Secretaries, Assistant Divisional Secretaries, District Samurdhi Director Sagarika Medivaka, Planning Director (W) Indika Senaratne, Assistant Planning Director Janani Madhurasinghe, Child Rights Promotion Officer of the Children and Women Division K. M. C. Kanthi Herath, and District Child Protection Officer of the same division Vinodani Kulathunga also participated in the Child and Women Development Committee held yesterday. In addition, the Assistant Registrar General (Kegalle), District Director of Health Services (Kegalle), Director, Early Childhood Development Authority (Ratnapura), Specialist Medical Officer for STDs (Kegalle), Probation Officers in Charge, Kegalle - Mawanella - Warakapola - Ruwanwella, NGO Coordination Officers, Social Services Officer (District Secretariat), all Child Rights Officers, Women's Development Officers, Regional Childcare Officers, Early Childhood Development Officers, as well as Foreign Employment Officers, Counseling Officers, Development Officers (NGOs) of the District Secretariat participated.
