A program to provide school supplies, among the programs implemented by the Ministry of Social Welfare for low-income children with disabilities under the financial provisions of the Asian Development Bank, was held at the District Secretariat yesterday (09) under the full supervision and advice of Kegalle District Secretary Ranjana Jayasinghe.

This program was provided to the Kegalle District through the intervention of the Additional Secretary (Development) of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Mrs. H. T. R. Tanaiya Piyasena.

A special feature of this was the distribution of school supplies worth Rs. 15,000/= per child to 50 selected students with disabilities representing all 11 Divisional Secretariat Divisions of the Kegalle District. Several counseling activities were also organized to improve the mental health of the children and the children were asked to draw pictures.

The drawings drawn by the children were observed by the District Secretary and with the cooperation of him and the Director of Planning of the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Empowerment, Mr. Nilantha Wickramanayake, school supplies were also distributed to the children.

The educational activities for the children were conducted by two resource persons, Madhushani Sandhanayake, Development Officer (Counseling) of the Warakapola Divisional Secretariat, and M. D. M. Iqbal, Counseling Officer of the Kegalle District Secretariat.

This program was organized by the Social Services Division including Kegalle District Social Services Officer Sarath Ranaweera.

Two parents representing the parents of disabled students also expressed their views on the program. Their aim was to "give the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities, the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Social Services Division of the Kegalle District Secretariat more strength and courage to identify children with such needs and actively contribute to their education."

The program was attended by Ms. Yamini Ratnayake, Administrative Officer of the Kegalle District Secretariat, officials of the Ministry of Social Welfare, officials of the Social Services Division of the Kegalle District Secretariat, disabled children and their parents.