South Asia Parliamentarian Platform for Children commences today

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Parliament of Sri Lanka together with the United Nations Children's Fund hosted Parliamentarians from across South Asia to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child this morning. The South Asia Parliamentarian Platform for Children will be held today and tomorrow (September 2nd and 3rd) in Colombo. The meeting aims to discuss key issues in the region, in relation to the rights of the children. The Regional Director of UNICEF Jean Gough attended the event. The Keynote address was delivered by Speaker of Parliament, Karu Jayasuriya. He noted that it was essential for everyone to commit themselves setting their differences aside when it came down to the well being of children. He added that Sri Lanka was exemplary at some situations in safeguarding children in the conflict years. He went on to note that the advancement of technology, modern social norms contradicts the traditional and cultural aspects in Sri Lanka. The speaker added that for instance, children's interaction with social media should be supervised carefully. He added that the adults should adapt to modern society without strictly adhering to the Sri Lankan age-old culture and traditions as it could confuse and strand the child who lives in a modern era. He finally added that it was necessary to eschew extremism, promote tolerance and moderation to fo come up with a permanent solution.