Abuse of orphans happens in most care-homes locally and abroad
In Sri Lanka and in most developed countries in the world the stories one hears at orphanages on neglect and abuse, including physical, verbal and sexual abuse of orphans by those who are entrusted to look after them is shocking, said the former President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, chief Guest at the Orphan Care launch held at the BMICH recently.
She said in western countries however they are more liberal to talk about it and investigate such abuses. Even in Sri Lanka such abuses happen in a big way in governmental and non -governmental organisations. Even where finances are concerned managers of such care homes are not transparent enough on monies spent on the welfare of children. The former President said the joy of being a child is one of the most beautiful things in one’s life but a child to be happy should be free from hunger and from disease and should be enveloped in an atmosphere of care and love. She said orphans are the children who do not have parents for whatever reason and belong to an exceptional category who cannot enjoy the joys of childhood. The Orphan Care Trust and the Amana Bank have taken care of the responsibility of providing for the large number of adult orphans which is most praiseworthy. Skills training of orphans will help them to launch into adulthood to integrate into society.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Child Affairs and Development of Dry Zones, Chandrani Bandara said that a child protection programme has been developed to minimise child abuse and social issues from data collected from various sources now available at all the Divisional Secretariats in the country, She said the Department of Probation and Child Care operates both at national and village level with much dedication to ensure the safety of children. “My ministry is responsible for children up to 18 years of age to ensure their rights and are working to create a friendly and safe environment for them. Children’s homes scattered in the island that comes under the purview of Probation and Child Care is provided with vocational training and efforts are been taken to reintegrate children into society after they reach 18 years of age. The government is encouraging private public partnership and I am happy to note that Amana Bank has stepped into the issue of orphan children above 18 years of age irrespective of religion and race to promote reconciliation efforts of the government,” she said.
Chairman, Amana Bank, Osman Kassim said that there are more than 14,000 orphans in Sri Lanka that they belonged to different religions, caste and race. Serving orphans is one of the great qualities of any human being. A scheme has been launched by the Amana Bank to help orphans when they reach 18 years of age to integrate in the society. Meanwhile the Amana Bank’s Orphans Care aims to address a very important unattended need of orphan children once they reach the age of 18 when orphans are compelled to leave institutional care.
Orphan Care is established as an independent trust under the auspices of Amana Bank which was launched at the BMICH under the patronage of the former President Ms. Kumaratunga, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Minister Ms. Bandara, CEO of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, Anman Sejiny, Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, diplomats, donors, customers and well-wishers.
The Orphan Care Trust will be administered by a team of trustees including the Chairman of the Trust, Ruzly Hussain; Amana Bank Chairman Mr. Kassim; K.R. Ravindran, former Rotary International President; Rohan Tudawe, Chairman of Tudawe Brothers; Sharad Amalean, Co-founder MAS Holdings; Tyeab Akbarally, Senior Director, Akbar Brothers; Harsha Amarasekera, President’s Counsel and Chairman CTC Holdings; Jazri Magdon Ismail, President AAT and Mohamed Azmeer, CEO of Amana Bank.