The official launch of the “Artha” National Programme took place in Colombo yesterday (15), marking a significant step toward improving the lives of children living in orphanages and child care institutions.
The programme, initiated under the guidance of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and implemented in partnership with the National Savings Bank, aims to provide a monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000 to each child in institutional care.
Of this amount, Rs. 3,000 will go to the care home management to meet the child’s daily needs, while Rs. 2,000 will be deposited into a savings account under the child’s name, to be used for their education or professional development upon reintegration into society.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who participated in the launch, stressed that children who are unable to grow up with their families due to various circumstances must still be guaranteed their rights and well-being. She stated that it is the government’s duty to ensure their physical, mental, and educational needs are met, and described the “Artha” initiative as a meaningful national project designed to secure both the present and future of these children without compromising their identity.
Dr. Amarasuriya emphasized that children in institutional care must be treated with the same dignity and rights as any other child and called on the Department of Probation and Child Care Services to fulfill their critical responsibility in protecting these children.
The government has allocated Rs. 1 billion for the “Artha” programme through its first national budget. The initiative will benefit 9,191 children residing in 356 registered child care institutions across the country, including those who have been orphaned, abandoned, or placed under care by court order.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj noted that this is the first time a Sri Lankan government has implemented such a structured plan to take responsibility for children outside their biological families. She described the programme as a humane national responsibility made possible by the collective contribution of all citizens.
