The District Child and Women’s Committee for the third quarter of this year was held today (24) at the District Secretariat Auditorium under the chairmanship of District Secretary Mr. K. G. S. Nishantha.

The meeting primarily focused on reviewing the progress of the previous committee meeting. Thereafter, special attention was paid to health, nutrition and mental development under the subject of child protection and development, as well as interventions relating to child abuse and exploitation.

It was stated that a new programme is currently being implemented in the field of forensic medicine, under which, in future, information relating to child victims admitted to hospitals due to abuse can be obtained exclusively through the Judicial Medical Officer. This initiative aims to minimise the psychological trauma experienced by child victims and protect their privacy.

The meeting also held extensive discussions on the need for a special programme to identify schoolchildren who are addicted to drugs and provide them with awareness programmes or rehabilitation services. The need to implement a special programme addressing the movement of schoolchildren outside their homes and in public places before and after school hours was also discussed at length.

As part of the Clean Sri Lanka Programme, a new initiative is also scheduled to be implemented, under which one Grama Niladhari Division will be selected in each Divisional Secretariat Division across Sri Lanka to implement comprehensive drug prevention programmes. It was stated that the training of relevant officers for this programme is expected to commence during the first week of the coming month.

It was also mentioned that Kegalle District has secured first place in the country in terms of the percentage of students who obtained more than 70% marks at this year’s Grade Five Scholarship Examination. It was further revealed that, compared to 2025, the district has recorded a lower level of child abuse cases in 2026.

Programmes related to children and women implemented by non-governmental organisations and other institutions were also discussed. In addition, awareness was provided to the committee on continuing future activities in accordance with the Kegalle District Plan.

The meeting also discussed the programme for registering the births of children in the district whose births have not yet been registered during 2026.

Furthermore, extensive discussions were held on special matters, issues and proposals relating to children and women in the district.

The meeting was organised by the Child Rights Promotion Officer of the District, Mrs. Kanthi Herath, together with the relevant division.

Additional District Secretary (Administration) Mrs. Kusum Bandara, Divisional Secretaries, the Provincial Commissioner of Probation, and officers representing institutions and departments responsible for child and women’s affairs in the district were also present at the occasion.