Don’t exploit children - MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday instructed officials to pay special attention to the children who had lost their parents due to the landslide in Koslanda, as unscrupulous persons could come forward claiming to be their parents with ulterior motives -- as happened during the tsunami.

Pay special attention to the children

“The children who have lost their parents must be given safe shelter at an easily inspected public place or placed in the care of relevant state institutions that will take responsibility for their well-being until they are later handed over to relatives who could take care of them,” he said. Meanwhile, the National Child Protection Authority yesterday requested the public to inform it, on its hotline 1929, of any children who had been affected and remained vulnerable as a result of the landslide at the Meeriyabedda estate in Haldummulla.

Meanwhile, the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) requested those concerned to inform them about children who had been displaced or left insecure as a result of the devastating earth slip. NCPA Assistant Manager Ediriweera Gunasekara said there would be attempts by immoral elements to exploit the situation and abuse helpless children.

He said the NCPA hotline 1929 could be used to inform them about such vulnerable children or about those who attempt to abuse them.