President Maithripala Sirisena, in a statement issued for ‘Children’s Day (October 1), said education was essential to children and reaffirmed the government’s decision to give priority to the health, nutrition and mental requirements of children.

‘It is the expectation of every adult to create a more copious and perfect life than they experienced for their children,’ the President said in his message.

‘As a country, our expectation is to bestow the children a wonderful childhood that is free from any social, economic and political burden.’

‘This is why the government has declared that education is essential to children and is giving priority to fulfill the health, nutrition and mental requirements of the child.’

Full statement follows:

Child is the universal symbol purity, innocence, and beauty. All children, born in this world, are creators of the future destiny of humankind, irrespective of their country of origin, race or religion.

Childhood is the period of gathering knowledge. In this context, what the child is collecting throughout childhood is the brilliance of future universes if human beings.

 It is the responsibility of the adults to make space for the children who are trying to understand the wonderful patterns of this universe with the open eyes of curiosity, to gather knowledge freely and experience imagination and joy.

 It is the expectation of every adult to create a more copious and perfect life than they experienced for their children. 

 As a country, our expectation is to bestow the children a wonderful childhood that is free from any social, economic and political burden.

 This is why the government has declared that education is essential to children and is giving priority to fulfill the health, nutrition and mental requirements of the child.

 It is our objective and responsibility to remove all barriers adverse to the positive growth of children, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

World Children’s Day, which falls today, will be an ideal occasion for the entire society to collectively pay attention towards this imperative requirement.

I congratulate the national celebration of World Children’s Day, organized by the Ministry of Women’s and Children’s Affairs under the theme ‘Lead Children to Their Wonder World – Along the Path of Love and Affection and wish all endeavors to create a beautiful world for children, a success!