It was a moving scene at the Matara Sujatha Balika Maha Vidyalaya auditorium on Saturday when the Foundation for the Protection of Unprotected Children presented cash donations and scholarships to nearly 500 children who have lost their parents at a ceremony presided by Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva PC.
As the children who had lost their parents for no fault of their own came on stage to receive their awards, paid obeisance to the Chief Justice and the Chief Justice in turn patted an caressed them with words of consolation after handing over the awards.
The Foundation playing good samaritan is looking after these children as foster parent.
The Chief Justice and the other special invitees were escorted to the venue by the Sujatha Balika Maha Vidyalaya dancing troupe.
The girls from Sujatha Balika Maha Vidyalaya performed a dance, while the Chief Justice and the other special invitees lit candales to inaugurate the proceedings.
The Foundation of Protection for the Unprotected children has been set up by Southern Range Deputy Inspector General of Police D. W. Prathapasinghe, who is also the Chairman of the Foundation, at Kathaluwa in the Ahangama Police area.
This has formulated a scheme of "Foster Parent Scholarships" to support the unprotected children so that they can escape the perpetrators of crimes or economic and social situations whilst continuing to have contact with responsible family members.
Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC said the Foundation for the Protection for the Unprotected Children is an inspirational scheme for the restriction of crime in particular and also of natural occurrences. The main objective of the foundation is looking after the unprotected children with love, kindness and compassion. The institute provides professional, legal and spiritual guidance, the Chief Justice added.
The Chief Justice emphasised two major issues in life - what is correct and what is wrong. What is correct is to do good things to others and what is wrong is to do wrong things to others.
'We must educate these children to do good things to others in their lifetime,' the Chief Justice added. "The children who had lost their parents are not left along. It was an excellent move by DIG Prathapasinghe to set up a foundation of this nature to cater to children who have lost their parents," the Chief Justice said.
DIG Prathapasinghe who is responsible for looking after the welfare of over 68 children who are 'victims of crimes' said that the foundation considered it important to maintain self-respect and dignity. In supporting victims, its aim is to break the cycle of victims becoming offenders. This is an important way of crime prevention.
DIG Prathapasinghe paid a glowing tribute to former Chief Justice Hema Basnayake, Ms. Himalee Basnayake and their family members for donating a four-acre-land and the building to house the Foundation. This building is their ancestral 'Walawwa' at Kathaluwa, Ahangama, the DIG said.
"There were a series of cases where under aged children had been molested by their fathers or relatives. As a result the children could not continue with their education and they fall into a vicious circle of neglect and abuse and as a consequence they become involved in crime themselves", he said.
"In some instances the father kills mother and goes to jail. The innocent children of such families are adversely affected and their education, food, health and other basic requirements come to a standstill, the DIG said.
"Criminals kill the parents and elders and as a result the children of such families are penalised physically, mentally and economically. The Foundation takes a holistic approach to restoring victims of crime and natural occurrences, DIG Prathapasinghe emphasized.
Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC who at an earlier date visited the foundation and directed DIG Prathapasinghe, to adopt children who had been affected by the tsunami.
Prof. C. A. S. Wickrema, Ms. Wickrema of USA and Sujatha Balika Maha Vidyalaya Principal Ms. K. P. Liyanage also participated at the ceremony.
Wimalaratne Mapitigama delivered the vote of thanks. Southern Range Crimes ASP Prematilleke Hettiarachchi and Inspector Leelawansa conducted the proceedings.
Khalid
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