President Kumaratunga and UNICEF chief share their concerns about children in conflict
[September 19, 2005 - 5.15 GMT]  

Shortly after her address to the 60th session of the UNGA on Saturday 17th President Chandrika Kumaratunga met Ms Ann M Veneman the Executive Director of UNICEF. Ms Veneman congratulated President Kumaratunga on her address and said she shared her views and her concern for children.

They discussed their shared commitment to uplift the welfare of children the world over. Ms Veneman said she could not agree more with President Kumaratunga about the three scourges that afflict the world, namely poverty, disease and terrorism.

In this context they discussed the continued reports of the LTTE's conscription of children in the North and East of Sri Lanka and the need to draw the awareness of these gross violations of the CFA to the international community.  In June this year Ms. Veneman took up this issue with the LTTE during a post-tsunami visit to Sri Lanka.

During her UN address President Kumaratunga outlined the work done by Sri Lanka’s National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), which she reiterated, to the UNICEF Chief during their meeting. The President explained the many programmes implemented to eliminate abuse and violence against children and ensure their protection as well as their rights to enjoy freely, life’s most precious gift – childhood. President Kumaratunga said Sri Lanka’s success is due to the outcome of sustained efforts at policy planning and implementing.

 PRINT THIS STORY

Contact Information: Send mail to gosl@presidentsl.org with questions or comments about this web site. 
Last Updated Date: September 19, 2005 - 5.15 GMT