Outgoing NCPA chairman assures further support
 

BY NADIRA Gunatilleke

PROF. D. G. HARENDRA De Silva,Chairman of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has stepped down from the post having completed the six year term according to the NCPA Act No.50 of 1998. For 2 1/2 years he also served in his capacity as a consultant to the Presidential Task Force.

Meeting the press at the NCPA yesterday Prof. De Silva said that there was no political or personal reasons behind his departure and added saying that he has no plans to accept a post in He said that he was ever willing to assist the NCPA in its future endeavours.

The NCPA Act No 50 of 1998, stipulates that a person can serve as Chairman of the NCPA only for six years. Prof. De Silva completes his six year term on May 31.

He said that he served the NCPA with maximum dedication and raised awareness on child exploitation and child rights among children and elders.

He thanked President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the public for providing information, the police, relevant authorities and all the others who supported him during his stewardship as NCPA's chairman.

The Report published by Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific on "Good Practices in combating Sexual Abuse and Sexual Exploitation of Children and Youth in Asia" has admired the performance of the NCPA towards the protection of children.

The Report has also named the NCPA as a model for "Child Protection" under Prof. De Silva's administration.

In addition to that the officials of National Hi-tech-Crime Unit of the United Kingdom has commended the services rendered by the NCPA and they have stated that the NCPA was providing one of the best services compared with the other institutions involved in the child protection activities in third world countries.

They had commended the media campaign carried out by the NCPA to protect child rights and to curb child exploitation.

The National Child Protection Authority Act No. 50 of 1998 was passed by the Parliament on September 8 in 1998.

The President appointed the Members of the Authority with wide powers to act as coordinating mechanism between the many government and non government agencies concerned with the prevention of child abuse and the protection and rehabilitation of victims of such abuse.