Nearly 30 children who had stopped attending school for an extended period have resumed their education following an initiative by the Community Policing Unit of the Grandpass Police Station in Colombo.
According to Sri Lanka Police, the initiative began after officers visited Bloemendhal Sinhala Vidyalaya as part of a World Children’s Day programme, during which ice cream was distributed to students.
During the programme, the school’s deputy principal informed Police Sergeant Samarawickrama, the officer in charge of the Community Policing Unit, that several students had been absent from school for a long period.
The officer obtained a list of the students and discussed the matter with Grandpass Police OIC Chief Inspector Dissanayake, who initiated efforts to locate the children and encourage them to return to school.
With the support of senior police officers, teams visited the children’s homes and spoke to their parents, explaining the importance of education and reminding them that schooling is compulsory until the age of 16.
Police also assured families that assistance would be provided to help their children continue their education.
Following the intervention, nearly 30 children from Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities arrived at the Grandpass Police Station in their school uniforms, where officers offered guidance and refreshments before facilitating their return to school.
The Community Policing Unit has also introduced a follow-up programme to monitor the children’s attendance and identify their needs, including schoolbooks, educational supplies and nutritional support.
According to police, the initiative has received financial contributions from the Grandpass Police OIC and several other officers.
Sri Lanka Police has encouraged the public to inform their nearest police station or relevant authorities about children who have dropped out of school or have been absent for extended periods, allowing steps to be taken to support their return to education. (Newswire)
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