"You belong to the country - the whole country belongs to you"

A media briefing was held today (14) at the Government Information Department to raise awareness about the "Artha" program to provide living allowance to children in institutional care or custody and street children organized by the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.

For this, Hon. Minister Saroja Savitri Paulraj, Hon. Deputy Minister Dr. Namal Sudarshana, Secretary to the Ministry K.D.R. Ms. Olga, Director (Planning) Ms. Subhashini Kahatapitiya, Commissioner of the Department of Probation and Child Care Services Ms. Gayani Kaushalya Wijesinghe participated, and journalists representing local media institutions and social media were present.

An important milestone in the program being carried out by the government led by the President with the vision of "A Safe Children's World - A Creative Future Generation" is the allocation of Rs. 1000 million in the 2025 National Budget to provide a monthly living allowance of Rs. 5,000/= to children in institutional care due to the loss of family-based care or proper custody. ⁣

For this purpose, the "Artha" program, jointly created by the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and the Department of Probation and Child Care Services affiliated to it, will make those children beneficiaries starting tomorrow.