The National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, operating under the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, is conducting the National Week for Early Childhood Care and Development from July 14 to July 20 under the theme "For a Flourishing World of Children – A Loving Family Like the Rays of the Sun." The initiative aims to nurture a generation of Sri Lankan children with healthy physical, psychosocial, and cognitive development.

As part of the fifth day of the National Week, today (18), a National Experience Sharing Programme was held at the Kegalle Municipal Council Hall in parallel with the "Senehe Thataka" (Pool of Affection) home-based Early Childhood Care and Development project, which focuses on empowering selected family units.

The "Senehe Thataka" programme is currently being implemented in all Divisional Secretariat Divisions of the Kegalle District. During today's programme, selected families from the Yatiyantota, Dehiowita, Deraniyagala, and Ruwanwella Divisional Secretariat Divisions shared their experiences of participating in the project. The session was facilitated by Professor Duminda Guruge of the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.

The programme was organized under the guidance of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, with the coordination of the Kegalle District Secretariat, led by District Early Childhood Development Officer Ms. Sudarika Chandrasiri together with the district's Early Childhood Development Officers.

The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs Dr. Namal Sudarshana, Member of Parliament for Kegalle Attorney-at-Law Sagarika Gangani Athauda, the Deputy Mayor of Kegalle, Secretary to the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs Ms. Tharangani Wickramasinghe, an Additional Secretary of the Ministry, Kegalle District Secretary Mr. K.G.S. Nishantha, Additional District Secretaries of Kegalle, senior government officials, Director of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development Ms. Nirooshika Dhanasekara and officials of the Secretariat, Early Childhood Development Officers of the district, preschool teachers, parents, and many other participants.