A pre-budget meeting for the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs for 2026 was held yesterday morning (20th) at the Presidential Secretariat, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the meeting reviewed the progress of projects carried out by institutions under the ministry using 2025 budget allocations. These included the Women’s Bureau of Sri Lanka, the National Committee on Women, the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, the Department of Probation and Child Care Services, and the National Child Protection Authority.
The President stressed the importance of ensuring budget funds are effectively utilised within the financial year so that the public can fully benefit. He also discussed the ministry’s future plans, highlighting its vital role in national development.
President Dissanayake directed officials to prepare women’s empowerment programmes aimed at eradicating rural poverty. He underscored that all ministries, including Women and Child Affairs, Fisheries, Agriculture, and Industries, must work collectively to uplift rural communities. He further instructed that the public sector, private sector, and non-governmental organisations be integrated into a systematic framework for this purpose.
Special attention was also drawn to protecting children in day-care centres and supporting school dropouts, with the President insisting that every child must be given the opportunity to complete their education.
The discussion additionally focused on creating a national strategy to prevent child abuse and mitigate harmful impacts of social media on children.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Deputy Minister Dr. Namal Sudarshana, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Senior Additional Secretaries to the President Russell Aponsu, Kapila Janaka Bandara and Roshan Gamage, along with senior officials from the Ministries of Finance and Women and Child Affairs.
