Protect children from porn websites

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Educationists and parents should warn schoolchildren of the ill-effects of accessing pornographic websites on the internet, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana said. The Minister has called upon teachers and parents to focus special attention on children who access websites at computer laboratories in schools and at home on the pretext of watching educational programs. Minister Gunawardana told the Sunday Observer that many schoolchildren have fallen victim to cyber crimes as a result of accessing pornographic websites.

"It is the duty of teachers and parents to protect children from watching pornography via the internet, since it will have an unhealthy impact on their lives and education".

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has initiated a series of campaigns in schools to educate teachers on the 'Safe Internet Use' by children from their tender age.

A spokesman for SLCERT said that its message could also be conveyed to students and parents by conducting countrywide awareness programs. According to educationists many children are in the habit of watching porn films and crime movies on the internet in the absence of their parents and elders. A former principal of Royal College, Panadura had summoned parents and warned them not to keep computers in isolated rooms at home as it would help children access obscene websites. The Education Minister called upon parents to keep computers in places where elders too could watch internet programs as it would help prevent children from accessing obscene websites.