UNICEF urges SL to support budget investment in early childhood

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) yesterday urged the Sri Lankan Government to support the call for national budget investment in early childhood. Tim Sutton, the UNICEF Representative for Sri Lanka, said this while addressing the Sri Lanka Early Childhood Development (ECD) highlevel meeting which was held in Colombo under the theme ‘Building Brains, Building Futures.’

At the event held to mark the Policymakers Day of National Early Childhood Care Week 2018, early childhood-centric budget proposals were handed over to Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera for consideration in the 2019 budget.

Budget proposals focused on health, protection and early childhood education were presented to the Finance Minister by the Ministries of Health, Education and Women and Child Affairs. Speaking at the event, Mr. Sutton said the presented proposals had the power to transform the lives of children and drive Sri Lanka’s economic growth. “Evidence shows that this investment is one of the most cost-effective ways to build this country’s human capital, with a return on investment of as much as 13.7 per cent. We urge the Sri Lankan Government and its Members of Parliament to support this call for national budget investment in early childhood,” he said. The event was attended by Prof. Edward Melhuish, Professor of Human Development, University of Oxford and Ms. Jean Gough, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia.