Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has emphasized the need for comprehensive social awareness programmes to protect children with disabilities and promote their wellbeing, following a visit to a national special education institution.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has stressed the importance of creating widespread social awareness to safeguard children with disabilities from negative influences while supporting their physical and mental development. During a visit to the National Institute of Special and Inclusive Education – Shishyodaya in Veniwelkola on Tuesday, she highlighted the particular vulnerabilities faced by this population and called for targeted awareness initiatives involving parents, teachers, and community members.
The Prime Minister's visit focused on assessing the current operational structure of the institution, which was established in 2019. She identified the need for systematic improvements to align the facility with inclusive education standards and objectives. To address these challenges, she proposed establishing a special committee to develop recommendations for transforming the institution into a centre that delivers quality education meeting inclusive education targets.
Several operational gaps were identified during the inspection. The Prime Minister noted that coordination with the Ministry of Health is necessary to resolve shortages of therapists and medical professionals providing clinical services to students. Additionally, she stressed the importance of proper maintenance of equipment and buildings using allocated funds, while prioritizing both immediate interventions for urgent issues and long-term sustainable solutions.
The welfare of teaching staff at the institution was also discussed during the visit. The delegation included Member of Parliament Anura Panagoda, Chairman of the Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha Kasun Rathnayake, and senior education ministry officials alongside parents and students.
