We are with you during these difficult times – UNICEF Regional Director assures Prime Minister

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena urged the UNICEF to increase assistance for women and children in rural and urban low income groups. He said this when a senior UNICEF delegation headed by Regional Director for South Asia George Laryea-Adjei called on him yesterday (August 24).

UNICEF Regional Director pointed out that UNICEF has number of projects for women and children and assured, “We are with you at these difficult times and we will expand our programmes in Sri Lanka”.

He added that the ongoing projects include supply of clean drinking water, supply of education materials and other critical supplies to children and families in the country.
Prime Minister stressed the importance of supply of mid-day meals to school children as it helps their intake of nutrition and also the programme is an incentive for rural and urban poor children to attend school.

Regional Director Laryea-Adje said an additional US$ 25 million has been allocated to Sri Lanka by UNICEF for education and children related programmes and to support pregnant women and lactating mothers.

Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake and UNICEF Sri Lanka Representative Christian Skoog also took part in the discussion.