An awareness programme for children on the importance of personal safety will be carried out across schools throughout the country from October 1^st, 2024. Munchee in line with World Children’s Day has planned a programme titled, ‘A Safe Childhood (Suraki Darumaga)’ to stress the importance of educating on their own safety. The programme for each school is presented by the teachers of the same school and is planned to be introduced in 150 schools. It is being carried out in connection with the celebration of ‘Children’s Day 2024’ in Sri Lanka by Munchee in association with the Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka Police and project Team HERO.

“We are indeed happy that Munchee has received the opportunity to fully sponsor this event,” said, Director / CEO of the company, Nalin Karunaratne.

It was in the 1960’s that Munchee made its mark throughout the country when Ceylon Biscuits Limited introduced nutritious biscuits to students in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Government and CARE Foundation, U.S.A. And today, Munchee biscuits are exported to 65-countries and the company has eight factories in Sri Lanka and three factories along with distribution centres overseas.

“We still have the same care and affection for the children of Sri Lanka,” Mr. Karunaratne added. “Which is why our products are manufactured to highest quality and taste. As a legacy from our founder, we value the safety of the future of our children as our responsibility. In order to fulfil this national responsibility, Munchee continues this journey that began fifty-five years ago. Our objective is to support this matter of national urgency without limiting this year’s Children’s Day to an event just done for a hallmark day.

Continuing further he said, “The programme - ‘A Safe Childhood’ by Munchee is an important initiative. The data provided by the Children and Women’s Bureau about crimes including child abuse is a stark warning about the dangerous future that awaits the next generation. We remain fully committed to the wellbeing of our children. We believe that ‘The Missed Lesson’ programme will help protect all children in the country. We as Munchee, will offer our complete commitment and sponsorship for this purpose.”

“It is very clear that there are serious threats to the safety of children,” said Mrs. Renuka Jayasundera, Deputy Inspector General of Police. “According to the data analysis by the Police Women and Children Unit, there were nearly 13,000 children victimised through various crimes in 2023 alone. There have also been some children identified as suspects in for various crimes. In 2024, out of 813 incidents of child abuse, 110 are pregnancies. During just the first six months of this year, that there are nearly 3000 children who have been the victims of various crimes. This is a very distressing factor. The primary aim of this programme is to educate children about their own safety and build a knowledgeable society that will create awareness of children’s safety including the parents and teachers. Similarly, that every child in the society will be looked after as your own. ‘The Missed Lesson’ programme also aims to strengthen child rehabilitation mechanisms and provide support for children.”

The World Children’s Day programme of the Ministry of Education and the Women and Children Unit is due to take place at the Nagananda Buddhist University premises in Kelaniya on October 1, 2024. It is expected that a special theme song will also be unveiled on this day in order to gather everyone from around the country to this theme.