Pre-Congress Workshop on Child Protection

Pre-Congress Workshop on Child Protection

A pre-congress workshop on the Standard Operational Procedure for the Management of Children who have faced Violence was successfully
completed on July 22, 2025. This event was a key part of the lead-up to the International Conference on Child Protection-2025.
The workshop was hosted by the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, at the new 'Vistara' conference hall.
The program was a collaboration between the Centre for Gender Studies at the University of Kelaniya, UNICEF Sri Lanka,
and the National Child Protection Authority. The Family Health Bureau and the Ministry of Health also provided support.

Workshop Objectives and Participants

The main goal of the workshop was to improve the management of children who have experienced violence by encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing among different
professions. A diverse group of professionals from the Gampaha District attended, including:
● Consultant pediatricians
● Pediatric medical officers
● Nurses
● Police officers
● Probation officers
● Child rights promotion officers

Key Speakers and Leadership

The workshop's chief guest was Dr. John Gall from Australia, who shared insights on child protection management in the UK and Australia. The sessions were led by a panel of resource
persons, including:
● Dr. Chandima Sirithunga, Director, Maternal and Child Health, Family Health Bureau
● Dr. Asvini D. Fernando, Chairperson of the Child Protection Committee, Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians
● Mrs. Renuka Jayasundara, Deputy Inspector General of Police
● Prof. Nayana Liyanaarachchi from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna
● Dr. Dharshani Hettiarachchi, Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist
● Mrs. Thamarika Harshani, Commissioner, Department of Probation and Child Care

Professor Madhawa Chandrathilake, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, was recognized for his guidance and support, which contributed to the workshop's
success.The organizing committee included faculty members from the Department of Forensic Medicine: Professor Anuruddhi Edirisinghe, Professor Indira Kitulwatta, Professor Nirmala Perera, and Dr.
Pabasara Wijeratne. Dr. Shobhavi Randeny and Dr. Hashan Pathiraja from the Department of Paediatrics also guided the organizing efforts.
The Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, stated its deep commitment to child protection in Sri Lanka and its plan to continue supporting similar initiatives in the future. The organizers
thanked various teams and staff for their support, including those from the Department of Forensic Medicine, the Department of Paediatrics, the Dean’s Office, and the Lama Piyasa at

North Colombo Teaching Hospital. The workshop was seen as an important step in strengthening the community's ability to protect vulnerable children.