The Sri Lankan government is moving forward with plans to establish a national network of daycare and therapy centres for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental conditions. 

Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake has directed officials to prepare a detailed concept proposal within two weeks, following discussions held yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat. 

The President’s Office states this initiative, championed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake, aims to create a coordinated system involving multiple ministries and government departments, with the Presidential Secretariat overseeing implementation.  

The programme will utilise a Rs 250 million allocation from this year’s budget, channelled through the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs to district-level administrators. Key aspects of the plan include developing specialised human resources, creating a scientifically validated care model and establishing clear operational guidelines. 

During yesterday’s meeting, officials emphasised the need for an integrated approach that brings together healthcare providers, social services and education specialists to ensure comprehensive support for affected children and their families.  

Senior government figures attending the planning session included Kapila Janaka Bandara, Senior Additional Secretary to the President, K.D.R. Olga Secretary to the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, Sampath Manthrinayake, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security & Community Infrastructure,   H.A. Hema Perera, Additional Secretary, Darshani Karunaratne, Director, Department of Social Services  and representatives from health, social services and rural development ministries. 

Medical specialists such as Dr. Varuni Rasadi from the Ministry of Health, Dr. Asiri Hewamalage, Deputy Director (Community Health) and Dr. Santhushitha Senadhipathi from the Lady Ridgeway Hospital also attended the discussion. (Newswire)

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Education Ministry officials say there has been a noticeable increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism in Sri Lanka and that, according to statistics, over 9,000 children have currently been identified.

This was disclosed during a meeting with the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Women and Child Affairs held in Parliament on Tuesday (08 Apr), chaired by Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj.  

During the meeting, the Committee Chair, Minister Paulraj, emphasized that due to the lack of proper diagnosis, many children continue to suffer from various disabilities.

She further stated that children with autism should be identified during their early developmental stages and that only through early diagnosis can they be guided toward a healthy developmental path. Accordingly, she stressed the need to implement an active mechanism to monitor and attend to children from birth, starting from the period under the supervision of the Public Health Midwife and throughout the early childhood development stages.

Minister Paulraj also revealed that plans are in place to establish three model daycare centers in identified regions for children with autism. It was also proposed to appoint a committee to carry out the necessary arrangements for this initiative, with the intention of guiding such children through appropriate stages of development.

Education Ministry officials also informed the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Women and Child Affairs that a six-month training program has been proposed for students who are undergoing training to become teachers, in their respective Colleges of Education, on handling children with disabilities. 

The officials further stated that the objective of this training is to equip teachers with the necessary knowledge and attitudes to treat children with disabilities equally to other children.

The Committee Chair, Minister Saroja Paulraj, also stated that steps are being taken to bring preschools operating under various mechanisms across the island under one standardized system. 

Additionally, officials informed the Committee that a joint policy on preschool education is currently being developed collaboratively by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs. 

They also stressed the importance of implementing the preschool curriculum framework that has already been drafted. (Newswire)

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