Govt to fund education of Ampitiya estate children

by Manjula Fernando

The Government took a decision at a special Cabinet meeting on Thursday to fund the education of children at the landslide-affected Ampitiya estate in Meeriyabedda irrespective if they are orphans or otherwise.

The Badulla District Secretary Rohana Keerthi Dissanayake said they have identified 53 such children and they are being sheltered separately at the Koslanda Sri Ganesha Tamil School.

The children will be assisted until they complete the GCE Advanced Level examination.

The Koslanda temporary relief camp accommodates 816 disaster-affected people, including the Ampitiya estate landslide victims. A total of 1,042 people were sheltered at the second relief camp at Poonagala Tamil Vidyalaya by Saturday.

Dissanayake said, "These children are under the care of a team of officers from the National Child Protection Authority. They will be kept there until a permanent solution is found by State officials."The children are being provided access to education, play and trauma counselling.President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his visit to the landslide site last Thursday directed officials to protect the children who have become orphans and homeless due to the calamity. He said a long-term plan has to be drawn for the State to take over the care of orphaned children.

Government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella on Friday said that these children will not be handed to their relatives since the government had no assurance of their well-being thereafter. He said after the 2006 tsunami, some children adopted by relatives were ill-treated.

The National Child Protection Authority called on the public to contact their toll-free hotline 1929 and give information on children rendered homeless due to the disaster.

A Child Protection Authority official emphasised the need to exercise vigilance as children are likely to fall prey to abduction or abuse during calamities like these.