Venerable Members of the Maha Sangha
Respected Members of the Clergy of other faiths
Dear Sons and Daughters,
The Hon. Minister for Children's and Women's Affairs and other Hon. Ministers
Your Excellencies, and
Distinguished Guests

I wish to mention first that all of us gathered here today have the honour of bearing witness to a moment when Sri Lankan society enters another decisive point in our history. I have immense satisfaction, both as a father and as Head of State, to participate in this event which signifies the dedication of Sri Lankan society towards children, who are the treasured possession of the entire world

It was in 1989 that the world community accepted that children had inherent rights of their own. This was consequent to the campaign launched by Madam Engeltine of England in 1923 with regard to the rights of the child, which resulted in the acceptance of the International Agreement on the Rights of Children by the General Assembly of the United Nations. Although we can be pleased that Sri Lanka was among the first 20 countries to sign that agreement, it is my belief that we can realize full satisfaction about this only when the agreement fully implemented in all parts of our country.

All the work carried out by my Government for and on behalf of children will be based within the framework of the International Agreement on Children. Accordingly, we consider the provision of adequate pre-natal nourishment to every Sri Lankan child to be born; ensuring a healthy life to every child that is born; the establishment of a suitable environment that will be conducive to the development of these children; and ensuring their safety and protection, as the responsibility of the government and State.

Similarly, it is my expectation that all work undertaken by us for the welfare of children should be available to all children with no differentiation whatever, throughout our country, from the extremes of Point Pedro to Dondra Head and Colombo to Batticaloa, encompassing the entire land. I wish to tell you with great honesty that one dream that drives me is that of seeing all children, be they Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher and all other peoples of our land, live as brothers and sisters of a singe mother in the New Sri Lanka that we shall build.

It is due to the necessity to make this dream a reality during my lifespan that I identified the need for a ministry to specially serve the needs of children and have ensured that it functions for that purpose. It is necessary for all of us to prove by action that the Declaration made today on the occasion of the National Day of the Child, is not limited words but a reality in action. How do we do this? Firstly, we should respect the right of children to make their views known about decisions that we take on behalf of children. That is why I advised those who organized this event that such consultation should be fundamental to their work.

We who are older in age do not pay much attention to seek the views of children on matters that affect and impact on them. If the National Year of the Child is to bear the expected results of a positive nature, we should all honestly accept this truth. It is because children know more than us adults about the world of the child that we should understand and appreciate their ability and right to produce more creative, practical and lasting solutions to the issues that affect them. Similarly, as a government and a nation we should have a total commitment to the principle of children's participation that runs as a glowing silver streak throughout the agreement on children's rights.

Honouring this concept of consultation, I expect very soon to meet with children and obtain their views about the functioning of the institutions, programmes and activities that are carried for their welfare. I would like to recommend to this ministry that it takes steps to establish a Children's Parliament, Children's Municipal Councils and Pradesheeya Sabhas through which the voice of the children will be heard loud and clearing the country. No doubt most of you will believe as I do that such assemblies will possibly be of greater benefit to today's elected representatives of the people than to the children.

It is our expectation to make the child a participant in governance. What we expect by declaring this as the National Year of the Child is to have a more sympathetic attitude towards their problems, and direct all Sri Lankans to do of their utmost to improve the quality of life of our children. It is my belief that in carrying out this task we will be able to work out a productive programme of activities by the coming together with total commitment of the Government, International Organizations and the Sri Lankan community. It is my honest belief that we could approach success in our aims in programmes that combine our collective strengths and efforts, rather than those that are done separately.

I also believe that in our march towards building a New Sri Lanka, the National Year of the Child will help us look at the problems of children with a new approach and new attitudes. It is both my determination and very strong belief that we within this year we shall be able to build a path to bring about solutions to a wide range of problems that engulf our children today. These extend from the child soldiers of the North, the street children of the South, the issue of children in domestic service, as well as, the problems of the children displaced and otherwise affected by the ravages of war and the tsunami. It is my positive and hopeful expectation that in this effort my Government and I will receive the unstinted support of all sections of our society with genuine concern for the cause of the child.

It is especially important that during this year we pay very special attention towards children who have our least attention such as the underprivileged child, and the differently-abled child, still referred to in general as deformed children.

It is also necessary for me to emphasize the need for special creative work directed towards children in areas such as cinema, theatre, songs and music. I call upon all the creative people in our country to produce more and more of such work in their chosen fields of talent and activity. Today, the use of children for advertising has become a major issue. The time set apart for children on TV and radio is in no way adequate. Changes in this should begin this year.

In conclusion, on this unique occasion when the government accepts its fundamental responsibility towards the child and takes new steps towards fulfilling that responsibility, I call upon all of you to make a commitment from the very depths of your hearts to build a very special world that is most suited for the child.