Activities on Children's Day

A six-day Sinhala Children's film festival will be conducted at the Tarangani Cinema in Colombo from September 26 till October 1 by the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) to coincide with the World Children's Day to be held on October 1.

According to the NCPA, only selected Sinhala children's films will be screened during this period and shows will commence at 3.30 pm each day. Free tickets would be available for children of all ages. NCPA Chairperson, Anoma Dissanayaka told the Sunday Observer that this is the first time a Sinhala film festival is conducted free for children in the country with films on children.

The official Children's Day ceremony will be held at Temple Trees under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa. Child Development and Women's Affairs Minister Tissa Karalliyadda will also be present.

Dissanayaka said several programs with the participation of children would be conducted in schools in the districts of Ratnapura, Colombo, Kegalle, Hambantota and Jaffna among other places.

The objective of conducting child-related activities all over the country is to create awareness among the public about the importance of fighting child abuse, sexual harrasment of children, anddomestic violence. - AK