Special programme to rehabilitate children in probation for drug-related offences

Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Savithri Paulraj, has stated that a special rehabilitation programme will be launched in the near future for children placed under probation for drug use, drug addiction and drug-related offences.The Minister made these remarks while participating in the Women and Children’s Sub-committee meeting held in the Anuradhapura District today (14).She noted that the Women and Children’s Sub-committees have been established alongside the District Coordination Committees in all districts to discuss issues, data and needs relating to women and children at the district level.During the meeting, the Minister reviewed statistical data and reports on women and children in the Anuradhapura District and instructed relevant officials to promptly address any shortcomings in the data.She also reviewed vacancies for field officers in the district and said that the necessary measures would be made at the Ministry level to fill the vacancies.In addition, the Minister instructed the Commissioner of the North Central Provincial Department of Probation and Child Care Services to prepare a report on children currently under probation who could be referred to vocational training programmes.She further directed officials to implement a programme in collaboration with government vocational training institutions to equip these children with skills and facilitate their reintegration into society.According to the Ministry, the initiative aims to provide children under probation with the support needed to build their lives as independent and responsible citizens upon their reintegration into society.