Over Rs 100m for childhood project

by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

The Child Development and Women's Affairs Ministry will launch an early childhood development project soon.

Over Rs. 100 million has been released for the program by the Finance and Planning Ministry, said Child Development and Women's Affairs Minister Tissa Karalliyadde.

The Minister told a meeting attended by District Secretaries, Provincial Probation Commissioners and field officers at the Child Development and Women's Affairs ministry last week that it is vital to implement an integrated early childhood development program islandwide rather than different programs, the minister said.

The officials were asked to identify the needs of their areas and apprise the ministry accordingly within a week. Funds for the purpose would be released to Government Agents and Provincial Child Development Ministries.

The project will be completed this year, he said. Emphasis was laid on the Northern, Eastern provinces and other remote areas where children need basic facilities such as early childhood education and nutritional food, he said.