Following the 3-day visit to Sri Lanka, the Executive Board delegation of the United States Children’s Fund (UNICEF) met with the Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on 04th of June at the Temple Trees premises.
Welcoming the delegation, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya expressed her appreciation for UNICEF’s continued support to Sri Lanka, particularly in advancing the rights and well-being of children. She also commended UNICEF’s timely assistance and recovery efforts extended in response to Cyclone Ditwah.
Discussions focused on strengthening legal protections for children, including measures to prevent all forms of violence against children and address child malnutrition.
The Prime Minister further noted that this occasion presents a valuable opportunity to further strengthen collaboration between UNICEF and the Government of Sri Lanka and emphasized that while Sri Lanka possesses a strong policy and legal framework, attention must be paid to ensuring effective implementation and enforcement in addressing existing challenges affecting children and vulnerable communities.
The UNICEF representatives commended the Government’s ongoing education reform process. UNICEF representatives also expressed their willingness to continue assistance to the government in achieving the outcomes and promoting child-sensitive programmes.
The meeting was attended by the H.E. Mr. Rein Tammsaar (Estonia) President, H.E. Sophia Tesfamariam (Eritrea) Vice President, H.E. Ms. Alejandra Hernandez Gonzalez (Dominican Republic), Vice President and the Executive Board delegation of the United States Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr. Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism.
Prime Minister’s Media Division