Sri Lanka Police have urged parents to remain vigilant when handing over vehicles to young teenagers, highlighting the rising number of accidents linked to overspeeding and reckless driving.

Police Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler, speaking to the media, said that a majority of recent accidents involve youngsters, with overspeeding identified as a key cause.

He further emphasized that any parent who provides a vehicle to a young teenager must take responsibility for the consequences.

ASP Wootler added that laws alone cannot address the issue of overspeeding and reckless driving, stressing that parents must pay closer attention to this matter. (Newswire)

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The government has intensified its focus on protecting children from cyber threats, online violence, and harms to their wellbeing, with Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya chairing a special discussion in Parliament on the implementation of a comprehensive national program.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting, organized with the participation of a multi‑disciplinary working group of the Digital Education Task Force, examined regulatory and educational solutions to safeguard children while ensuring they continue to benefit from digital participation.

Officials noted that several countries are debating age restrictions on social media access, but highlighted studies showing that bans alone may be ineffective, with 85% of children in one country continuing to use platforms through other means. Risks such as lost learning opportunities, increased reliance on unsafe platforms, and privacy concerns were also discussed.

The discussion emphasized adopting a “smart mix” of strategies to address harms including grooming, exploitation, harmful content exposure, sleep disruption, compulsive online behavior, and impacts on mental wellbeing.

Proposed measures include boosting digital literacy, empowering parents and children, holding online platforms accountable, disabling addictive features, and embedding Safety‑by‑Design principles.

The government reaffirmed its commitment to an evidence‑informed approach and cross‑ministerial cooperation. 

In line with this process, draft school‑level guidelines on online safety, cybersecurity, and digital wellbeing were presented, developed using international frameworks and national resources. 

Following approval of the finalised guidelines by the appropriate bodies, they will be made available to schools nationwide with accompanying training and orientation for their implementation. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has launched preliminary discussions with stakeholders to explore proposals for banning or restricting social media use among children under 16, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said. 

PM Amarasuriya said that the consultations focus on the social, mental, and health impacts of social media, digital security, and global developments. 

Work is underway to draft national guidelines on prohibiting access for under‑16s, alongside awareness campaigns aimed at safeguarding children’s mental and physical wellbeing, she said.

The Prime Minister further said that the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has also rolled out a programme to help children under 18 overcome mobile phone addiction, which has already shown positive results. 

PM Harini Amarasuriya made the remarks while addressing the Parliament of Sri Lanka today (08). (Newswire)

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Two six‑year‑old children lost their lives in separate accidents reported in the Maradankadawala and Hikkaduwa areas on Tuesday (07), while the Police in both divisions have launched investigations into the incidents.

A six‑year‑old boy from Maradankadawala died after falling into an uncovered, water‑filled pit about seven feet deep in the Kollakuttigama area.

According to the Police, the child had gone with his two siblings and several friends near a house under construction to catch parrots when he fell into the pit.

The Maradankadawala Police are conducting further investigations.

Meanwhile, a 06-year-old child was reported dead in an accident involving a head-on collision between a passenger bus travelling towards Galle and a three‑wheeler coming from the opposite direction on the Colombo–Galle main road in Wewala, Hikkaduwa.

The driver of the three‑wheeler, two passengers, two women, and the child were injured and admitted to Arachchikanda Hospital. The six‑year‑old child, a resident of Dikwella, later succumbed to injuries.

The other injured individuals were transferred to Karapitiya Hospital for further treatment. The bus driver has been taken into custody, and the Hikkaduwa Police are continuing investigations. (Newswire/ Image- Accident1st)

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France’s Lower House passed a Bill banning social media for those under 15, a move championed by President Emmanuel Macron as a way to protect children from excessive screen time.

The lower National Assembly adopted the text by a vote of 130 to 21 in a lengthy overnight session from Jan 26 to 27.

It will now go to the Senate, France’s upper house, ahead of becoming law.

Mr Macron hailed it as a “major step” in protecting France’s children and teenagers.

The legislation, which also provides for a ban on mobile phones in high schools, comes after Australia’s ban on social media for those under 16 in December, a world first.

As social media has grown, so has concern that too much screen time is arresting child development and contributing to mental health problems.

“The emotions of our children and teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated, either by American platforms or Chinese algorithms,” Mr Macron said in a video broadcast on Jan 23.

Authorities want the measures to be enforced from the start of the 2026 school year for new accounts.

Former prime minister Gabriel Attal, who leads Mr Macron’s Renaissance party in the Lower House, said he hoped the Senate would pass the Bill by mid-February so that the ban could come into force for new accounts on Sept 1.

He added that “social media platforms will then have until Dec 31 to deactivate existing accounts” that do not comply with the age limit.

‘Destiny of our country’

In addition to combating the impact of screens and social media on the mental health of young adolescents, Mr Attal stressed that the measure would counter “a number of powers that, through social media platforms, want to colonise minds”.

“France can be a pioneer in Europe in a month: we can change the lives of our young people and our families, and perhaps also change the destiny of our country in terms of independence,” he said.

France’s public health watchdog ANSES said in January that social media platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram had numerous detrimental effects on adolescents – particularly girls – while not being the sole cause of declining mental health.

The risks listed include cyberbullying and exposure to violent content.

The legislation stipulates that “access to an online social networking service provided by an online platform is prohibited for minors under the age of 15”.

The draft Bill excludes online encyclopaedias and educational directories from the ban.

An effective age verification system would have to come into force for the ban to become reality. Work on such a system is under way at the European level.

The hard-left France Unbowed’s Mr Arnaud Saint-Martin criticised the ban as “a form of digital paternalism” and an “overly simplistic” response to the negative impacts of technology.

On Jan 26, nine child protection associations urged lawmakers to “hold platforms accountable”, not “ban” children from social media.

Mr Macron has also backed a ban on students having mobile phones in high schools.

In 2018, France banned children from using mobile phones in “colleges”, the schools attended between the ages of 11 and 15.

Former prime minister Elisabeth Borne expressed reservations about the measure on Jan 26.

“It’s more complicated than that,” she told broadcaster France 2. “We first need to make sure that the ban is properly enforced in middle schools.” (AFP)

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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says initial estimates suggest that over 275,000 children are among the 1.4 million people affected due to Cyclone Ditwah, although disrupted communications and blocked access routes imply the actual number may be even higher.

Issuing a statement, UNICEF stated that Cyclone Ditwah has left children across Sri Lanka facing an escalating humanitarian crisis. 

After making landfall on the East Coast early on 28 November, the storm caused widespread floods and devastating landslides. 

UNICEF Sri Lanka is coordinating closely with the Government, national authorities, and partners to assess the situation and has initiated life-saving support. 

To respond to the urgent needs of children and families in the hardest-hit districts, UNICEF is further scaling up its efforts and appealing for additional funding to provide clean drinking water, essential nutrition supplies, psychosocial support, and emergency education kits to displaced children and mothers who need them most.

“UNICEF remains deeply concerned about the destruction the cyclone has caused to children and the vital services they depend on for their safety and well-being. We stand in solidarity with families who have suffered losses and displacement and extend our deepest condolences to those mourning loved ones,” said Emma Brigham, UNICEF Representative in Sri Lanka.

“Children urgently need help. It is a race against time to reach the most vulnerable families who direly require lifesaving services,” she added. “And while the cyclone may have passed, the consequences have not.”

The severe damage to homes and vital infrastructure, along with the disruption of essential services, has caused widespread displacement and increases the risk of disease outbreaks, malnutrition, unsafe living conditions, and severe emotional distress among children. 

The cyclone will only deepen the struggles of Sri Lanka’s most vulnerable communities, who are still reeling from successive shocks, including the 2022 economic crisis. According to a World Bank 2025 report, poverty has more than doubled since 2019, rising from 11.3 per cent to 24.5 per cent. For millions of families, life remains unaffordable, with basic needs increasingly out of reach. (Newswire)

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The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has raised concerns over an increase in reports of child rights violations, particularly cases involving corporal punishment.

In a statement issued on Wednesday (15), the Commission said such practices cause not only physical injury but also lasting emotional harm, which in some cases has led to trauma and even suicide.

Referring to the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill gazetted on 4 July 2025, the HRCSL said the proposed legislation seeks to prohibit all forms of cruel, degrading and harmful punishments—both physical and non-physical—against anyone under 18 years of age.

The Commission noted that Sri Lanka’s existing laws already provide a strong foundation for protecting children through the Penal Code, the Children and Young Persons Ordinance, and Article 11 of the Constitution, which guarantees protection from torture or degrading treatment.

HRCSL Chairperson Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya stressed that abolishing corporal punishment must be viewed as part of a collective effort to promote positive, respectful discipline that builds children’s dignity and confidence rather than fear or violence.

The Commission also urged the public to engage in informed discussions about the reforms without misrepresentation or politicisation, warning that such actions could weaken efforts to protect children.

Justice Dehideniya added that protecting children from harm is both a legal and moral responsibility shared by families, educators, policymakers, and society at large. (Newswire)

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Two children have been reported dead in tragic accidents in the Mirihana and Hettipola areas on Wednesday (08). 

The Police state a 05-year-old boy has died after drowning in the swimming pool of a hotel in Nugegoda last evening. 

According to the Police, the child had drowned while undergoing training under a swimming coach along with a group of school students, accompanied by a teacher.

The child who was rescued from the swimming pool was pronounced dead after being admitted to the Kalubowila Hospital. 

The deceased is a resident of Nugegoda. The Mirihana Police is conducting investigations. 

Meanwhile, a 12-year-old girl was reported dead in a motorcycle accident on the Divulwewa- Boraluwewa Road in Hettipola last afternoon.

According to the Police, a motorcycle had slowed down near a bend but had been hit by another motorcycle travelling behind.

The rider of the motorcycle travelling behind had been unable to control the vehicle and had, thereafter, toppled over, after which he and the child pillion rider had been run over by a lorry travelling in the opposite direction.

The two injured persons were admitted to the Hettipola Hospital, after which the child, a resident of Madulla, succumbed to injuries. The Hettipola Police is conducting investigations. (Newswire)

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A draft bill to amend the Penal Code regarding the physical punishment of children has been submitted to Parliament by the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.

According to the Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa, once parliamentary proceedings related to this proposed amendment are concluded, the Ministry will take steps to issue relevant guidelines or directives to schools, if such instructions are deemed necessary.

The move comes after the Cabinet recently approved proposals for amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Penal Code to ban physical and psychological injuries caused by physical punishments in any sector.

Meanwhile, a recent report from the World Health Organization said corporal punishment causes significant harm to children’s health and development, revealing that globally, an estimated 1.2 billion children aged 0–18 years are subjected to physical punishment in their homes every year and that the practice in schools is equally widespread. (Newswire)

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The government is to launch a programme under the President’s Fund to provide financial assistance for the education of children in Sri Lanka whose parents are facing hardships while working abroad.

The new programme will be launched in line with the concept of “Ensuring No Child is Left Behind in Education”.

The initiative will be implemented jointly by the President’s Fund, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). 

A discussion on expanding the services of the President’s Fund to benefit Sri Lankans employed overseas, as well as those aspiring to seek employment overseas, was held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (03).

The meeting was chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, together with Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Secretary to the President’s Fund, Roshan Gamage. 

The programme aims to safeguard the school and university education of children in Sri Lanka whose parents are working overseas, particularly those who have passed away, are affected by disasters, imprisoned or missing abroad. 

The programme also seeks to offer financial assistance to young individuals who are preparing to work overseas, to study foreign languages, monthly allowances for resource personnel at language training centres, financial backing for rural youth to obtain necessary skills, training for overseas employment and the development of a skilled workforce for the tourism sector, particularly focusing on rural areas. 

The discussion yesterday was attended by Additional Secretary of the Foreign Employment Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. M. M. S. S. B. Yalegama, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Kogala Wickramasinghe, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management Dheera Hettiarachchi, along with officials from the President’s Fund and the SLBFE. (Newswire)

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The Government has approved to allow free access to non-ticketed heritage sites for local children under the age of 18, and to issue entry passes under limited conditions for foreign children under 18.

According to the Central Cultural Fund, this initiative is effective from 01 July 2025. 

The primary objective of this decision is to instil an appreciation of cultural heritage among local children and foster awareness of national heritage institutions and sites. 

The Central Cultural Fund states that foreign children will also be granted access under fair and appropriate procedures. 

These measures aim to provide children with suitable opportunities and valuable educational experiences when visiting national heritage sites. 

The Central Cultural Fund points out that, in particular, offering free access based on age to local children is intended to nurture genuine understanding and interest in their national heritage. (Newswire)

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The “Artha” National Programme, a government initiative aimed at providing a monthly allowance to children residing in orphanages and childcare centres, was officially launched under the patronage of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya on Tuesday. 

The inaugural ceremony of the national initiative to provide a monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000 to children residing in orphanages and childcare centres, was held in Colombo.

The “Artha” National Programme, which was launched under the guidance of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, is implemented in partnership with the National Savings Bank. 

From the monthly allowances of Rs. 5,000 allocated by the government per child, Rs. 3,000 will be provided to the management of the care homes for the children’s daily needs, and the remaining Rs. 2,000 will be deposited into a bank account under the child’s name. This saving is intended for the child to use in the future for educational or professional purposes upon reintegration into society.

A budget of Rs. 01 billion has been allocated for this project through the government’s first budget, and through this, the Artha programme will provide Rs. 5,000 monthly to 9,191 children who have been abandoned, orphaned, or placed under institutional care through court orders, residing in 356 child care institutions across the country.

Addressing the event, PM Harini Amarasuriya said ensuring the current well-being as well as the future security of children living in these institutions is a responsibility of the government

“At times, for children, those who have lost the opportunity to live in their family homes under parental care for various reasons, children’s homes or similar care institutions become their final option. As a government, we are responsible for guaranteeing the education and monitoring the physical and mental well-being of these children. The state cannot neglect the responsibility of caring for every child, regardless of their circumstances. In that regard, the “Artha” initiative being launched today becomes a meaningful national project. The main objective and vision of the Artha” initiative is to safeguard the present and future of these children without harming their identity,” she said.

The Prime Minister further said, “The children in care homes should be treated as our very own children, and we must remember that they are equally entitled to all the rights and privileges afforded to other children. Ensuring those child rights is also a core goal of the “Artha” programme.” 

While stating that it is everyone’s responsibility to treat these children with dignity, the Prime Minister called upon the Department of Probation and Child Care Services, which holds the main responsibility for the protection and welfare of these children, to fulfil their role properly.

Addressing the gathering as the Minister in charge, Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj stated that this is the first time in history that a government has implemented such a systematic plan to take responsibility for children living outside of their biological families. 

She emphasized that this is a humane responsibility and added that all citizens of the country have contributed to making this initiative a reality. (Newswire)

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Two children, aged 15 and 04, have died in two separate road accidents reported in the Mannar and Kataragama areas on Thursday. 

A 04-year-old boy was reported dead after the motorcycle he was travelling on collided with a pickup truck in the Murungkan area on Thursday afternoon. 

The Police said the accident had occurred when the child was travelling on the motorcycle with his father, mother, and sister.

The family of four, which had sustained injuries, had been admitted to the Mannara Hospital, where one child had succumbed to injuries. 

The driver of the pickup truck has been arrested in connection with the accident. The Mannar Police is conducting investigations. 

Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy was reported dead after a three-wheeler collided with a lorry on the Gonagangaara-Kataragama road on Thursday morning.

A man, his wife, and two children who were travelling in the three-wheeler had sustained injuries in the accident and had been admitted to Kataragama Hospital. One child, a resident of Bibile, had succumbed to injuries at the hospital. 

The driver of the lorry has been arrested in connection with the accident. The Kataragama Police is conducting investigations. (Newswire)

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The government will make a key decision in two months regarding plastic products that affect children, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe, said. 

Addressing the media, Minister Samarasinghe said, world over, attention has been focused on the effects of everyday plastic exposure, causing cancer among children. 

He further revealed that experiments conducted in the local market have reported high-risk situations in this regard.

Minister Samarasinghe said that as such, in coordination with several other ministries, it has been decided to take a stringent decision in the next two months.

“This decision will be jointly taken by the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, and the Ministries of Industries, Environment, Education, and the Consumer Affairs Authority,” he said. 

Stating that not only will importers and manufacturers of plastic products be briefed on the impacts, he said they will be informed of the negative impacts to children and the guidelines to be followed during the production of such items. 

Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe also said that a committee will be appointed to look into the matter, adding that those involved in the plastic products industry are encouraged to share their concerns and suggestions with the said committee. 

He went on to note that, based on the report of the committee, the authorities will take the utmost measures to safeguard the children of the nation. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Health has raised concerns over a growing trend of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Sri Lankan children, attributing the rise to poor dietary habits and lifestyle choices.

Speaking at a media briefing organized by the Health Promotion Bureau, Dr. Monika Wijeratne, Director of the Ministry’s Nutrition Division, revealed that conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are increasingly affecting school-aged children.

Citing data collected during the 2024 National Nutrition Month, Dr. Monika Wijeratne noted that 7% of students in grades 1, 4, 7, and 10 were found to be overweight. 

A global health survey conducted the same year among children aged 13–17 revealed that 3% were obese and 12% were overweight, she said.

Dr. Monika Wijeratne further said that the findings also highlighted troubling dietary patterns, such as 17% of children consumed sugary beverages, 28–29% consumed high-fat foods, 41% consumed high-sugar foods, and 28% consumed salty snacks.

“These patterns show that children’s eating habits are far from ideal,” Dr. Monika Wijeratne said, adding, “As a result, we’re seeing a growing risk of NCDs like hypertension and diabetes at increasingly younger ages.” (Newswire)

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Three children have been killed in separate tragic accidents reported in three areas of Sri Lanka on Saturday (24 May).

In the first incident, an 08-year-old was killed after being attacked by a wild elephant in the Indhikatuwewa area in Gomarankadawala. 

Police investigations reveal that the child accompanying his father to work on a bicycle, had encountered the elephant on the road. The Gomarankadawala Police is conducting investigations.

In the second incident, a 14-year-old boy died after his motorcycle crashed into a truck near the Gangodagama Junction on the Hakmana- Beliatta Road yesterday. 

The child had succumbed to injuries after being admitted to the Tangalle Hospital. The truck driver has been arrested in connection with the accident, while the Hakmana Police is conducting investigations. 

In the third instance, a 15-year-old boy was reported dead in a motorcycle accident in the Ethimale area yesterday. 

The Police said a motorcycle that had attempted to overtake another motorcycle travelling in the same direction had knocked the motorcycle in front, resulting in the rider losing control of the vehicle and toppling over.

The two motorcyclists and three pillion riders who had sustained injuries in the accident had been admitted to the Sirigala Hospital, where one motorcyclist had succumbed to injuries.

Police investigations reveal that the motorcyclist had travelled with two pillion riders, and none were wearing helmets at the time of the incident. The other injured persons have been admitted to the Sirigala and Ethimale Hospitals for treatment. (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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Two children were reported dead in separate tragic accidents reported in the Ulukkulama and Mawanella areas yesterday.

A 16-year-old boy who had fallen off a tree in the Ambulugala area in Mawanella last morning had succumbed to injuries after receiving treatment at the Mawanella Hospital. 

Police investigations reveal that the boy along with a friend had been contracted to collect areca nuts for a payment during which he had fallen due to the tree falling down. The Mawanella Police is conducting investigations into the incident. 

Meanwhile, a 07-year-old child was reported dead after being knocked down by a bus in the Unit 02 area in Ulukkulama in the North Central Province last afternoon.

The child who was on a bicycle had been knocked down by a bus plying from Vavuniya to the unit seven area after which the child had been run over by the back tyre of the bus. 

The child who had sustained serious injuries in the incident had died after being admitted to the Pawakkulama Hospital.

The child is a resident of the Pawakkulama area. The Ulukkulama Police is conducting investigations. (Newswire)

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An increase in fever, viral flu, and dengue has been reported among children in Sri Lanka, Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Deepal Perera said.  

Dr. Deepal Perera revealed symptoms of viral fever, including cough, cold, body ache and occasional vomiting, are seen in infected children.

He further advised parents to closely monitor their children’s symptoms and seek medical attention, especially if the fever lasts for more than three days.

Dr. Deepal Perera also pointed out that there was a spread of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) among schoolchildren at present. 

Health authorities urge parents to be on the lookout for symptoms such as small, oval, white blisters on the palms and soles of children, around the mouth or on the upper buttocks, as well as brown or red skin in the mouth and itchiness.

Parents have been informed that some of these symptoms are similar to those of influenza, so it is important to seek medical advice if the fever persists.

Dr. Deepal Perera also recommended blood tests to detect dengue, a disease which is also now on the rise.

He pointed out that dengue requires special caution because of its fatal potential with a mortality rate of 0.1%.

Parents have been advised to remain vigilant and seek immediate advice from medical professionals if their child shows signs of illness. (Newswire)

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A 19-year-old boy was reported dead and four children were injured in two separate accidents reported in the last 24 hours ending at 06.00 am today.

The 19-year-old boy was reported dead in an accident that had occurred in the Kumbukgete area in the North Western Province yesterday.

The Police said two motorcycles had collided head-on in the Kumbukwewa area, resulting in the motorcyclists, two pillion riders, and two children sustaining injuries.

While receiving treatment at the Hiripitiya Hospital, one motorcyclist succumbed to injuries. The deceased has been identified as a resident of Kumbukgete.

Furthermore, two children aged 10 and 04 years have been injured and their 37-year-old mother has died in an accident reported in the Ruwanwella area yesterday. 

The Police said two motorcycles had collided head-on resulting in the woman and her two children sustaining injuries. 

The female motorcyclist had succumbed to injuries, while her 10-year-old child is receiving treatment at the Karawanella Hospital and the 04-year-old child had sustained minor injuries. (Newswire)

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