161 school-age children not attending school in Kalutara

By Sunil S. Thanthriarachchi

Colombo, April 22 (Daily Mirror) - A total of 161 children of school-going age who are not attending school have been identified in the Kalutara District in 2025, with the highest number reported from the Dodangoda Divisional Secretariat Division.

The information was revealed at the Kalutara District Coordination Committee meeting held at the Kalutara District Secretariat under the patronage of the Chairman of the Kalutara District Coordination Committee, Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.

According to a report presented by the Kalutara District Child Rights Promotion Officer, the number of out-of-school children by divisional secretariat is as follows: Beruwala (14), Panadura (15), Kalutara (15), Millaniya (2), Horana (20), Walallawita (1), Matugama (15), Bandaragama (7), Agalawatte (7), Dodangoda (51), Ingiriya (4), Madurawala (2), and Palindanuwara (8). No cases were reported from the Bulathsinhala Divisional Secretariat Division.

The report further noted that 42 children have already returned to school. This includes 2 from Kalutara, 6 from Matugama, 6 from Bandaragama, 6 from Dodangoda, 1 from Madurawala and 6 from Palindanuwara.

Officials also informed the meeting that School Supervision Committees have been established in 12 out of the 14 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the Kalutara District, while Beruwala and Matugama remain the only divisions where such committees are yet to be set up.