Authorities are set to introduce national media guidelines to protect the dignity, privacy and confidentiality of children featured in news reports, while also considering measures to strengthen child protection and improve the handling of child abuse cases.

The guidelines were discussed at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Women and Child Affairs, which met in Parliament this week (22) under the chairmanship of Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj.

The guidelines are intended to establish standards for reporting news involving children across print, electronic and social media, with particular emphasis on protecting the best interests of children.

They also seek to ensure accuracy and fairness in reporting while preventing children and their families from being unnecessarily exposed through media coverage.

The Committee stressed that special attention should be paid to media reports involving children with disabilities to ensure their dignity and rights are protected.

Meanwhile, attention was drawn to difficulties faced by Tamil-speaking women and children when lodging complaints with authorities, particularly in areas such as Jaffna.

The Committee discussed recruiting and training more Tamil-speaking female police officers to strengthen Women and Children’s Units in Tamil-speaking areas and reduce language barriers when complaints are made.

Another key issue discussed was the regulation and monitoring of children’s homes operating across the country.

The Committee highlighted the need for a centralised information system covering children’s homes, while stressing that the management of such institutions must be held accountable as part of efforts to prevent abuse of children.

The issue of mothers with children under five travelling overseas for employment was also taken up. A technical committee is expected to reach a final decision on matters relating to the issue.

Authorities also discussed a programme to reimburse educational expenses incurred for the children of women working overseas.

Meanwhile, the Committee considered plans to introduce common standards for all preschools by 2027, along with a common training and certification mechanism for preschool teachers.

Addressing infrastructure deficiencies at preschools was also identified as an area requiring attention.

The Committee further focused on delays in the judicial process involving child abuse cases and discussed several measures aimed at speeding up proceedings.

These include accelerating the issuance of Judicial Medical Officer and Government Analyst reports, addressing staff shortages at the Attorney General’s Department and establishing a special mechanism for the expeditious hearing of child abuse cases.

Proposed legal amendments to prohibit the physical punishment of children by law were also discussed.

Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs Namal Sudarshana, other Deputy Ministers, MPs, Ministry officials and other relevant representatives participated in the meeting. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has announced a new safeguard for public service recruitment, requiring individuals, particularly those entering jobs directly involving children, to obtain a certificate confirming they have not been accused of child crimes.

Speaking at a media briefing at the Government Information Department, Minister Saroja Paulraj said the relevant Cabinet paper has already been submitted. 

She further said that the measure is designed to ensure that only individuals free of child‑related criminal accusations are entrusted with positions granting access to children.

According to the proposal, the certificate must be issued by the police or other relevant official institutions. Importantly, the requirement will also apply to those already serving in the public sector.

 Officials will be required to renew and present the certificate during service breaks and salary increments, verifying that they have not been involved in child crimes during the relevant period.

“When entering public service, especially for jobs with access to children, it is necessary to confirm that those persons have not been accused of child crimes. We are taking steps to confirm this requirement through a Cabinet paper. Likewise, those already in public service must continuously renew this certificate during their service breaks and salary increments. The reason is to ensure they are not persons involved in child crimes during that period. Such measures are necessary for us as a country moving forward,” Minister Paulraj explained. (Newswire)

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Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj said her ministry and relevant agencies had taken all necessary steps to ensure the safety and protection of the girl who was allegedly sexually abused in Anuradhapura. 

She rejected claims that the child lacked legal representation, stating that the girl, her sibling and another child relative in the household remain under the ministry’s custody.

The minister said that the government’s decision not to disclose unnecessary details of the case to the media does not mean no action is being taken.

Addressing the media, Minister Paulraj said that a complaint on the incident has been filed by Sri Lanka Police, which is a state entity, while the Attorney General’s advice has been sought on the proceedings of the case. 

“There are attempts by certain parties to take political advantage of the incident. We do not intend to respond to such acts. We have taken all necessary measures regarding the incident,” she said. 

The minister revealed that the recording of all evidence, statements from the victim, site examination, findings of clothing reported to have been buried, and forensic examination and report have all been completed.

She added that the investigation can proceed based on video evidence and other material, such as the forensic report, medical report, and initial statements. 

The Minister of Women and Child Affairs added that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure the protection and well-being of the victim. (Newswire)

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A new government‑run Child Daycare Centre has been opened in Battaramulla, using equipment and supplies donated by the All‑China Women’s Federation to the Parliamentary Women’s Caucus.

The centre, located within the premises of the “Govijana Mandiraya” of the Ministry of Agriculture, was inaugurated yesterday (06).

It includes a preschool named “Little Roots” and operates as a joint project of the Sri Lanka Parliament, the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, and the Ministry of Agriculture.

According to the government, the daycare centre will provide crucial support to busy government employees, ensuring the early childhood development and well‑being of their children.

Initially, it will serve staff of Parliament and the Ministry of Agriculture, with plans to expand in the future.

The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savitri Paulraj and Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Lands K.D. Lalkantha.

Officials from the Ministries of Women and Child Affairs, Agriculture, and Mass Media, members of the Parliamentary Women’s Caucus, the Deputy Chairperson of Committees of Parliament, Parliament officials, representatives of the Chinese Embassy, parents, and children participated in the event. (Newswire)

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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)

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A Sri Lankan delegation led by Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj, engaged in a discussion with the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore, Christopher de Souza, focused on expanding cooperation between Sri Lanka and Singapore in the field of tourism.

Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj and the Sri Lankan delegation held a bilateral meeting with Christopher de Souza, focused on expanding cooperation between Sri Lanka and Singapore in the field of tourism, with particular emphasis on developing the homestay tourism sector in Sri Lanka. 

Both parties agreed on the importance of enhancing parliamentary and people-to-people engagement between the two countries to support tourism promotion and sustainable economic development.

The discussion took place on the sidelines of the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) held from 5th to 12th October 2025 in Bridgetown, Barbados.

A Parliamentary delegation from Sri Lanka, led by Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj, participated in the Conference held under the theme “The Commonwealth – A Global Partner.”

The Conference, organized by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), brought together over 500 parliamentarians and parliamentary officials from across the Commonwealth to exchange views on strengthening democratic governance, promoting inclusivity and transparency, and fostering international cooperation among member legislatures.

The Sri Lankan delegation comprised Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) Asia Regional Champion Sugath Wasantha de Silva, MPs Sagarika Athauda, Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy, Mujibur Rahman, and the Secretary-General of Parliament and Regional Secretary to the CPA Asia Region Kushani Rohanadeera.

Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj made a significant contribution to the Conference through her active participation in the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) programme. She served as a lead speaker at the workshop on “Debate Not Hate: Not Accepting Abuse as an Outcome of Free Speech” and took part in the CWP Steering Committee, representing the CPA Asia Region as an Alternate Member. 

Minister Paulraj also addressed the CWP and CPwD Joint Workshop on “Overcoming the Barriers to the Involvement of Women with Disabilities in Politics,” where she shared insights on empowering women with disabilities to actively engage in political life. 

Most importantly, Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj delivered an address at the General Assembly debate, representing Sri Lanka and reaffirming the nation’s steadfast commitment to democracy, inclusivity, and gender-responsive governance. Furthermore, she chaired the Regional Executive Committee Meeting of the CPA Asia Region, alongside Kushani Rohanadeera, Secretary-General of Parliament and Regional Secretary to the CPA Asia Region, which focused on strengthening regional cooperation among member parliaments.

MP Sugath Wasantha de Silva, in his capacity as CPwD Asia Regional Champion, represented Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) sessions, contributing to discussions on promoting inclusivity, accessibility, and the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in political life.

Secretary-General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera attended the Conference in her official capacity as the Regional Secretary of the CPA Asia Region. She participated in the CPA Regional Secretaries Meeting and other administrative sessions aimed at enhancing inter-regional collaboration and institutional development within member parliaments.

The Sri Lankan delegation actively participated in the workshops and conference sessions, engaging in constructive dialogue and knowledge sharing on governance, inclusion, and sustainable development, with the objective of applying these insights for the benefit of Sri Lanka’s parliamentary and national advancement.

The 68th CPC also featured a series of high-level plenary workshops and side events on global themes such as strengthening democratic institutions, leveraging digital transformation for governance, promoting financial transparency in parliaments and elections, and addressing climate change as a global health challenge.

The participation of the Sri Lanka delegation underscores the nation’s continued commitment to the principles and values of the Commonwealth and its proactive engagement in promoting democracy, good governance, gender equality, and inclusivity across the global parliamentary community. (Newswire)

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