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[September 14, 2004 - 9.30 GMT] President Chandrika Kumaratunga will launch the National Plan of Action for Children on Wednesday, September 15. The National Plan of Action, or NPA, developed by the Planning Department of the Ministry of Finance with the UNICEF assistance will enhance its programmes and services to Sri Lankan children over the next 5 years. The NPA is designed to help meet goals for children set by governments around the world at the UN Special Session on Children, May 2002. At the Special Session in New York, President Kumaratunga together with other world leaders made a commitment to create a world fit for children and to develop a National Plan of Action. Sri Lanka is one of the first countries to develop its NPA, highlighting the Government’s concern and commitment to children’s rights. In her address at the UN’s Special Session on Children, President Kumaratunga said “Children are Sri Lanka’s greatest asset, and as such it is up to all of us to invest in our children to ensure a brighter future for our country”. The Sri Lankan government has concentrated its efforts for children in areas such as health, nutrition, education, child protection, water and sanitation, child labour and juvenile justice. The NPA will form the key policy and operational document for fulfilling these goals for children in Sri Lanka. As a strategy benefiting children, the government worked with UNICEF and other partners to ensure that children had an opportunity to help formulate priorities, review the NPA, and provide feedback to make sure the Plan was truly designed to meet their needs. Children will also be involved in monitoring the progress of NPA activities. The government plans to invest 14.2 billion rupees in children’s programmes and services over the next five years, with support from international partners.
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