Need for a Children's Magistrate's Court raised

The need for a "Children's Magistrate's Court" to be established in the Judicial Zone of Colombo has been raised, following the high percentage of children's cases reported in the Juvenile Courts, Bambalapitiya and Colombo ..

Ministry of Justice and Law Reforms Secretary Suhada Gamlath made this observation at a conference held recently in Colombo, attended by Ministry Additional Secretary (Legal) Ms. Kamalini de Silva, Judges Training Institute Director, Justice N. Udalagama and Deputy Solicitor General Jayantha Jayasuriya, representatives from the National Child Protection Authority, Human Rights Commission, Departments of Police, Labour, Probation and Child Care Services, Save the Children in Sri Lanka, UNICEF, Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies and Institute of Human Rights.

The research findings and observations based on data collected from the Magistrate's Courts in the Judicial Zone of Colombo were formally presented to child protection stakeholders at a meeting held at the Ministry of Justice and Law Reforms recently.

The data collection was carried out by the Ministry in collaboration with the Judicial Service Commission and Save the Children in Sri Lanka (SCISL), with financial assistance from USAID. The research was conducted by Attorney-at-Law/Consultant to SCISL Harshana Nanayakkara.Among the key findings was that a vast majority of children who came into contact with the justice system were those "in need of care and protection" (as defined by the Children and Young Persons Ordinance), in comparison to child offenders.

Also highlighted by the research was the need to strengthen the co-ordination between the Police and Probation Services in order to avoid unnecessary delays and related consequences for children in contact with the law. It was further revealed that a significantly high percentage of children's cases was reported.

The proposed Children's Magistrate's Court is to be financed by the USAID.

Compiled by W.A. Rusiru JAYASURIYA

September 27

Rev. Dr. Peter Pillai (founder of Aquinas College) passed away in 1964.

Olivia Newton John, pop singer was born in 1948.

September 28

Dr. G. P. Wickramaarachchi, ayurvedic physician was born in 1889.

Louis Pasteur, French chemist and bacteriologist who discovered the vaccine for rabies, died in 1895.

Lata Mangeshkar, Indian singer was born in 1929.

Albert Ascoll, an Italian who discovered the anti-tuberculosis vaccine died in 1957.

Pope John Paul I, passed away in 1978.

September 29

Charles Henry de Zoysa died in 1890.

Lech Walesa, a former President of Poland was born in 1943.

Prof. Senaka Bibile, a former Chairman of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation, died in 1977.

Karu Jayasuriya, Member of Parliament was born in 1940.

September 30

Rudolph Diesel, German automobile engineer died in 1913.

Sri Lal Hikkaduwa Liyanage, the founder editor of Mihira, Tharunee and Navayugaya weekly papers died in 1998.

October 1

Julie Andrews, English actress and singer (of Sound of Music fame) was born in 1935.

Sivaji Ganesan, Indian film actor was born in 1928.

William Edward Boeing, founder of Boeing Aircraft Company was born in 1881.

October 2

Ven. Narada Maha Thera of Vajiraramaya passed away in 1983.

Mahatma Gandhi, Pioneer of the Indian Freedom Movement was born in 1869.

Lal Bahadur Shastri, a former Prime Minister of India was born in 1904.

Sir John Kotelawala, a former Prime Minister of Ceylon died in 1980.

Rev. Robert Runcie, a former Archbishop of Canterbury was born in 1921.

October 3

Sridath Ramphal, a former Secretary General of the Commonwealth was born in 1928.

Pieter Keuneman, former leader of the Communist Party was born in 1917.

Elias Howey, an American inventer of the sewing machine died in 1867.

September 27

World Tourism Day.

Surveyor's Institute of Sri Lanka was established in 1926.

Ceramic factory at Negombo inaugurated in 1955.

New Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka came into operation in 1978.

September 29

National Savings Bank was established in 1931.

September 30

World Heart Day.

Botzwana became independent in 1966.

October 1

Independence Day of Nigeria

Independence Day of Cyprus

World Children's Day.

International Day of Older Persons

District Courts were setup in Ceylon in 1803.

Atomic Energy Authority was established.

October 2

Guinea gains independence from France in 1958.

October 3

World Temperance Day.

West Germany was re-united with East Germany in 1990.

Korean Independence Day.

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch.At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray: "Take only ONE. God is watching."

Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note: "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."

National Children's Council to be set up

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Sri Lanka's first 'National Children's Council' (NCC) comprising 100 schoolchildren from all parts of the country will be established by the Probation and Child Care Services Department to mark World Children's Day which is celebrated in our country on October 1. The child representatives will be selected from all districts of the country, including the Northern and Eastern districts.

The objective of establishing such a council is to encourage Sri Lankan children to voice their ideas and suggestions to policy makers at national level.Speaking to the Junior Observer, Probation and Child Care Services Commissioner, Sarath Abeygunawardana said elders must give a patient hearing to the voice of children, since they too have the right to convey their views, ideas and proposals.

"In our country, many adults are in the habit of taking their own decisions when discussing about matters related to children,

He said important decisions must not be taken by elders without discussing them with children.

"It is the paramount duty of elders to give such an opportunity to children, considering the fact that these children would one day become the decision-makers,"

The NCC will also ensure the protection of the rights of children, development of their skills and also their moral development.

He said countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh have already commenced numerous national level programmes for the benefit and protection of children in their respective countries, and Sri Lanka too must ensure that the children are given the best protection and benefits.

Child actor wins award

Child actor Kokila Jayasuriya who played the main role in Somaratna Dissanayaka's film Siri Raja Siri won the Best Child Actor award at the 10th International Children's Film Festival which concluded in Qingdao, in Phoenix Island in China on September 13. This is the sixth international award won by the film Siri Raja Siri which was represented at the festival in China by Producer Renuka Balasuriya and the actor Kokila. Siri Raja Siri was among the 12 films which vied at the final round of the festival which altogether featured 250 films. The 12 films at the finals were from USA, France, Italy, UK, Japan, India, Switzerland, Brazil, Germany, China, Russia and Sri Lanka.

First Sinhala children's newspaper relaunched

The first Sinhala Children's newspaper published way back in 1961 was relaunched at the International Book Exhibition held at the BMICH, Colombo 7, on September 16.

The children's newspaper entitled 'Helabima' was edited by Dayawansa Jayakody. The special issue printed for the exhibition has reproduced some of the contributions made by Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra, K. Jayatilaka, Athula Manchanayake, Nimal Siripala, Sunil Ariyaratne, Sunanda Mahendra, Siri Kahawala, Karunaratne D. Phillip, Newton Gunasekara, Sisira Senaratne and R. Premadasa.Most of these writers were in their youth and they rose to eminent positions in later life. Even the editor of the newspaper - Dayawansa Jayakody - was a student at Ananda College, Colombo.

'Helabima' carried interesting short stories, poems, pocket cartoons, news and views relating to children and their education.

A national census in 2011

After a lapse of 30 years, the Department of Census and Statistics will conduct the 14th National Census of Population and Housing in 2011, covering all 25 districts. This was revealed by the Director H.R. Gunasekera at a press conference in Colombo, recently.

A large number of numerators - 85,000 - would be taking part in this census which will be conducted from house to house all over the country. About 30 million questionnaires will have to be filled from the households, by the enumerators.

The last national census was held islandwide in 1981 and a census held in 2001 was able to take in only one district out of the eight in the North and East, Ampara; terrorist activity in the other seven districts prevented the census being conducted.Preliminary preparations for the census such as Grama Niladhari division maps and census block maps in 18 districts are in progress and the same process will commence shortly, in eight Districts of the North and East Gunasekera said.

The first national census was done in 1871 under the Census Ordinance of 1871 during the British Colonial Government.

The census is the only source of social, economic and demographic information on each and every individual and on living quarters at a given point of time, and is the basis for national and subnational development plans and policies.

The public should be aware of its importance.The current legal enactment covering the populations or housing census gives authority to enumerators - agents of the Director Census and Statistics to ensure the confidentiality of the information given by householders and members of the public in answering the questionnaires used in the census, the Director said.