Children should be safeguarded

Child Development and Women’s Affairs Minister, Tissa Karalliyadde

Q: Last week the media reported that the child crime rate is on the rise. What steps have you taken to arrest the situation?

A: Parents, elders and society in general are duty-bound to safeguard children. The government alone cannot eradicate this menace of child crime. However, we feel that the response from parents and elders is very poor. The government has a vital role to play in protecting the lives of children. Already the child Development Ministry has sought the approval from the Legal Draftsman to amend the Child Protection Act.

The relevant authorities should not leave room for delays in urgent matters such as eliminating crimes committed against children. The highest penalties should be imposed on those found guilty of crimes against children.

Country needs Commerce and Science graduates

Education Minister, Bandula Gunawardena

Q: The present education system is responsible for the increasing number of unemployed youth. They have become a frustrated lot. Why is there a delay in effecting necessary changes into the education system?

A: Steps have been taken to reform the present education system to suit the needs of a developing country.

While fifty three percent of students take to the Arts stream, only 22 percent follow the Science stream, while 25 percent follows the Commerce stream. This has to be changed soon, since the country needs more Science and Commerce graduates for its developmental priorities and the job market.

A new education system to accommodate over 40 percent Science and Commerce stream Advanced level students is being formulated by a team of intellectuals and educationalists. It will be implemented probably before March this year.

Land powers should be vested with Central Government

Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Chief Minister Mahipala Herath

Q: the 13+ issue is being debated by political leaders and Provincial Councillors, your stand seems to be different from the others, can you explain?

A: the creation of Provincial Councils was to ensure a united Sri Lanka. Provincial Councils are meant to expedite developmental activities at provincial level. I believe that the devolution of land and police powers to Provincial Councils would be the stepping stone towards a separate State.

Land powers should be vested with the Central Government. Devolution of land powers is bound to create political as well as environmental problems.