Urgent call to issue children’s birth certificates in Nuwara Eliya

By Sudath H.M. Hewa

Colombo, August 21 (Daily Mirror) - Nuwara Eliya District Secretary Thushari Tennakoon has directed the District Child and Women Development Committee to take immediate steps to provide birth certificates to all children in the district who do not yet possess them.

Speaking at the Committee meeting held yesterday at the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat, Tennakoon stressed that birth certificates are essential for safeguarding children’s rights.

“Without a birth certificate, children face difficulties from the very beginning, especially when being admitted to schools,” she said.

She proposed that mobile service units be organized in collaboration with the District Registrar Division to issue birth certificates swiftly to affected children.

The District Secretary also highlighted several other concerns requiring urgent attention, including ensuring school enrollment for out-of-school children, directing those under 16 who have left school toward vocational training, providing transport facilities for children facing commuting challenges, and investigating cases where mothers leave their children behind to work abroad.