Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Saroja Savitri Paulraj, says the government has paid special attention to establishing a dedicated system for child transportation to the Provincial Probation and Child Protection Departments.
“Children have faced difficulties when transported in prison vehicles, including being moved in buses marked as prison transport, travelling alongside adult offenders, and, in some cases, victims being transported in the same vehicle as their alleged perpetrators. These situations have resulted in secondary victimization within the justice process,” she said.
Minister Paulraj pointed out that the Supreme Court, during the fundamental rights case S.C. (F/R) 335/2010, has also highlighted the necessity of such a system.
The minister said that as the first step, five modern Toyota vans were handed over to the Provincial Councils of Southern, Sabaragamuwa, Western, North Western, and Northern Provinces.
She further noted that in line with the government’s policy statement “A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life”, and under the theme “A Safe Childhood, A Creative Future Generation”, Rs. 250 million was allocated in the current budget to purchase vehicles for child transportation at the provincial level. Accordingly, nine vehicles, one for each province, were handed over yesterday.
To ensure the system functions effectively, 54 new posts have been created at the provincial level, despite the suspension of new recruitments in state institutions. Each province will receive six officers: two drivers, two caretakers, and two security officers.
The minister said that recruitment is already underway, and the ministry has also focused on providing special training to these staff members immediately after their appointments. The progress of the new transport system will be reviewed and strengthened further.
The Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs emphasized that maximum intervention will be made in the field of women’s and children’s affairs to uplift social indicators in the coming year, alongside improvements in economic indicators.
She made these remarks yesterday (24) at the official ceremony held at the Ministry premises in Battaramulla, to hand over vehicles for child transportation to the Provincial Probation and Child Protection Departments.
According to the minister, the issue of transporting children to safe places under court orders has long been under discussion.
She explained that children who are victims, suspects, or offenders appearing before the court are temporarily kept in safe houses or detention centres until a decision is made, and transporting such children has often been carried out by the Prisons Department, leading to serious concerns.
Minister Paulral said that taking these concerns into account, the government has paid special attention to establishing the dedicated Child‑Friendly Transport System. (Newswire)
