2.Development programs

1. Steering Committee on the Rights of the Child

Following the signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child by Sri Lanka in 1991, the Government had to take appropriate steps to safeguard the rights of Sri Lankan children. Introduced administratively strong systems, strengthened social structures and introduced new programs to ensure community-based intervention to ensure the protection and rights of children. Accordingly, the Steering Committee on the Rights of the Child was established. Circular No. MSS / 3/4/161 was issued by the Ministry of Social Services for this purpose in the year 2000 and was re-drafted by this Department under Circular No. PCC / CROP / 11/3/4.

These committees function within the layers of the National Steering Committee, the Provincial Steering Committee, the District Child Development Committee, the Regional Steering Committee and the Rural Child Development Committee. Aiming to create a healthier environment for children to live in, this program is the second result of the strengthening of committees, the Model Village program for safeguarding the rights of the child, as well as the gradual development of the Children's Club program to expand child participation.

2. Project to establish children's clubs and children's councils

Children's clubs were established at the Grama Niladhari level in 2007 with the main objective of empowering children by ensuring the right of participation of children covered by Articles 12,13,14 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Through the children's clubs established in this manner, a number of programs related to the development of children, the development of values ​​and the development of skills have been implemented in each Divisional Secretariat.

Divisional Children's Councils have been established by amalgamating the children's clubs established at the Divisional Secretariat level and District Children's Councils have been established by the officers of the Pradeshiya Sabha. At present a Divisional Children's Council has been established in each Divisional Secretariat and a District Children's Council has been established in each District. A National Children's Council has also been established in association with the District Children's Councils. The children's clubs have implemented skills development programs for children, donated books to the libraries of the children's clubs and promoted virtue promotion programs.

3. Model Children's Village Program

Provisions have been made under this program to implement programs to protect the rights of the child in selected villages in each Divisional Secretariat Division to ensure the community based child insurance process. Under this, programs should be implemented to ensure the development, survival, security and participation of every child in the village under the intervention of various government officials.

Project reports that could be implemented at the level of Divisional Secretariats were brought for this purpose and Rs. 5000.00 each was allocated for 351 Child Rights Officers in 311 Divisional Secretariats on that need.

4. Child Friend Centers

These centers provide the necessary care for isolated children to spend their leisure time safely, ensuring the safety of children in a vulnerable family environment. Provides facilities for the protection of children as well as the development of knowledge and skills when both parents are away from home. Here they have the privilege of engaging in library, indoor sports as well as outdoor sports activities.

5. Awareness programs

Children are meant for every human being under the age of 18. The primary responsibility of our department is to protect the rights of the child as well as to protect them from violence and abuse. Children need to be empowered to fulfill these responsibilities and inherit a more friendly future.

Based on these objectives, awareness programs on various topics are organized and implemented at the Divisional Secretariat level to minimize the problems that arise from time to time and to enhance the knowledge of the children. It targets different social structures. 

Ex: -

1. children
2. Parents and adults
3. Various professionals
4. Communities

It annually raises awareness on specific topics for the protection and protection of the rights of children through a positive approach based on various social needs.

6. Preparation of security plans

The long-term safety guarantee program for vulnerable children is the development of safety plans. The need for this as a technical method of ensuring child protection arises due to the identification of a large number of children in the 2011 island-wide survey on child identification.

The risk factors for children identified in this way varied. They make security plans to ensure that they are eliminated from that vulnerable situation and ensure safety. It has to be implemented in the short term as well as in the long run over a period of several years and is followed up by the Child Rights Promotion Officers and the Child Rights Promotion Assistants.

The assistance of other field officers is also sought in all activities, from the formulation of these security plans to their implementation and evaluation. It emphasizes the importance of working within an integrated approach rather than an individual in ensuring child protection.

Developing these safety plans will help protect and develop the child as well as uplift the family. In particular, it has been able to improve the family income streams required for the nutrition and development of children, to provide facilities for the development of sanitation facilities as well as to improve the quality of education.

7.  Child centered Disaster Risk Mitigation Program

Sri Lanka has been identified as a disaster prone country and in recent history Sri Lankan society has faced various natural disasters. Southwest and northeast monsoon rains are the main cause of climate and climate change in Sri Lanka, which is a tiny island in the Indian Ocean. Floods , landslides , floods , as well as droughts , hurricanes, and other hazards caused by heavy rainfall occur throughout the year. In addition, there are many disasters that human beings commit knowingly or unknowingly and that they have to face. However, the relevant data emphasize that children are most at risk in such cases

According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the protection of the rights of the child at all times is essential and the Government is committed to this. Accordingly, as a government agency that implements this Convention and works to protect the rights of children, the Department   has introduced the Child-centered Disaster Risk Reduction Program as a strategy to protect the rights of children in the event of disasters.

The uniqueness of this program is that it helps children identify the risk factors they and their community are facing, and prepares children to take the necessary precautions to minimize the impact. For this, children will have the opportunity to identify projects at the village level and implement them. This department implements the child centered disaster risk reduction program by the children who are involved in the children's clubs and children's councils program.

8.  Child Basic Research

The children are inquisitive. Logical as well as sympathetic analyzes can often be found in them. It is the children themselves who truly experience the protection of the rights of the child and how children are abused in their true form when they are violated. Therefore, they are the ones who are able to find the problems that the children have started and the proper solutions to them. The Children's Basic Research Program provides an opportunity for that. Implemented through the District Children and Program introduced by the Department of Probation and Child Care Services, the main objective of this program is to conduct a study on the negative situation affecting children in their district and to strengthen the intervention required to implement and implement solutions themselves. Identifying evidence-based approaches and directing children to it and developing their knowledge are among the positive experiences that children gain from this program.