children Archives - Ceylon Independent

Sixty-five children hospitalized after food poisoning

6Sep

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL, Top Story

Sixty-five children hospitalized after food poisoning

Twenty of the sixty-five children, who were hospitalized due to food poisoning yesterday (05), still remain in hospital receiving treatment. Reportedly, a religious institute non-governmental organization had distributed food among 160 children from the Templestowe Estates in Watawala Police division, which had caused an allergic reaction. Subsequently, 65 children of ages 1 to 12 have been admitted to hospitals from 7 pm to 10 pm last night as they showed symptoms of throwing-up, fainting, and diarrhea. Three children whose cases were severe had been then transferred to the Nawalapitiya Base Hospital while 10 boys and 7 girls are still receiving treatment at the Watawala District Hospital, stated District Medical Officer Dr. Sanath Perera. The relevant religious institute cond...

Need an action plan to save children from drugs – former President

24Jul

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL, Main Story

Need an action plan to save children from drugs – former President

A swift action plan is needed to save the children from the drug issue, says former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He points out that, now, the use of drugs has increased rapidly. Also, the current government is trying to paint a false picture to the public regarding the economy of the country, former President stated. He made these comments, yesterday (23), at an event organized by the Chinese embassy to mark the 91st Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Liberation Army of China. The event was attended by many including the Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan and former Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Surabaya attacks: Parents who bring their children to die

15May

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

World

Surabaya attacks: Parents who bring their children to die

The past days' deadly Islamist attacks in Indonesia have stood out because two families - parents and their very own children - were the attackers. While children have been used as suicide bombers before around the world, it is rare that parents take their own children to die along with them. In previous cases, children have been taken from their families, indoctrinated or drugged, then forced to attack. The recent suicide blasts have been the deadliest militant attacks in Indonesia in more than a decade. On Sunday, a mother targeted a church in Surabaya, alongside her two daughters, while the father and the two sons detonated bombs at two others. The daughters were nine and 12 while the sons were aged 16 and 18. "This pattern of attack is quite new - it's something we have...

Manhattan nanny Yoselyn Ortega gets life in jail for murdering children

15May

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

World

Manhattan nanny Yoselyn Ortega gets life in jail for murdering children

A nanny convicted of murdering two children she stabbed at their luxury New York City apartment has been sentenced to life in prison.In sentencing Yoselyn Ortega, 56, the judge described her as "pure evil" before handing her the maximum term. The bloody bodies of Lucia "Lulu" Krim, six, and her brother Leo, two, were found by their mother in a bathtub at the Manhattan flat on 25 October 2012. Ortega had pleaded insanity but the jury rejected her defence. On Monday, Ortega appeared visibly shaken as she apologised while addressing the court. Speaking in Spanish through a translator, she said she was "sorry for everything", adding that she hoped for "a great deal of forgiveness". 'Like a horror movie' During the two-month trial at the Supreme Court in Manhattan, the mother of ...

UNICEF commends Sri Lankan mothers for exclusively breastfeeding their children

11May

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

UNICEF commends Sri Lankan mothers for exclusively breastfeeding their children

New analysis released Thurday shows that 99 percent of children in Sri Lanka are breastfed at some point in their young lives while babies in South Asia including Sri Lanka are more likely to be breastfed than any other region in the world and are breastfed for longer, UNICEF said. At least 98 per cent of children in the region are breastfed at some point in their young lives including Afghanistan (98%), Bhutan (99%), Nepal (99%), Sri Lanka (99%), and elsewhere in South Asia the proportion is also high at 94-97%. Almost all mothers in Sri Lanka, deemed a middle-income country, give birth at the hospitals, which promote and implement 10 steps of the baby-friendly initiative. This is on par with the high-income country of New Zealand. Breastmilk saves lives and protects babies a...

The Rohingya children trafficked for sex

21Mar

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

World

The Rohingya children trafficked for sex

Girls in their early teens are being trafficked into prostitution in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, a BBC News investigation has found. Foreigners seeking sex can easily gain access to children who have fled conflict in Myanmar and now face a new threat. Anwara is 14. Fleeing Myanmar after her family were killed she searched for help on the road to Bangladesh. "Women came with a van. They asked me, if I'd go with them." After accepting their help, she was bundled into a car, with the promise of safe passage to a new life. Instead she was taken to the nearest city, Cox's Bazar. "Not long after that they brought two boys to me. They showed me a knife and punched me in my tummy and beat me because I wasn't co-operating. Then the boys raped me. I wasn't willing to have sex but...

Global child soldier index shows Girls used as ‘human bombs’

28Feb

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

Main Story, World

Global child soldier index shows Girls used as ‘human bombs’

By Ana Ionova Children were used to fight in at least 18 conflicts since 2016 – including as 'human bombs' – despite a global ban on the use of children in war, a database showed on Wednesday. Child soldiers were used in Syria, Libya, Nigeria and Colombia - all of which have ratified a United Nations treaty, outlawing the conscription of under 18s and their participation in hostilities, the campaign group behind the index said. "The systematic abuse of child rights continues unabated in many places around the world," UK-based Child Soldiers International said in a statement. "The use of children, including large numbers of girls, as 'human bombs' is one alarming new trend." More than 115,000 child soldiers have been freed since 2000, but tens of thousands continue to be expl...

UNICEF launches landmark study on Sri Lanka’s digital landscape to keep children safe

6Feb

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

LOCAL

UNICEF launches landmark study on Sri Lanka’s digital landscape to keep children safe

The United Nations children's organization, UNICEF has launched a new report entitled 'Keeping Children Safe and Empowered Online: A study on Sri Lanka's digital landscape' to mark Safer Internet Day 2018. The report shows, for the first time, how adolescents access and use the internet in Sri Lanka, and recommends key actions to ensure that young people benefit from the full, positive potential of these technologies, whilst minimizing the potential for harm. The study reveals that while 52.8 percent of young people in Sri Lanka access the internet - with the average age of first access being 13 years - there is a significant 'digital divide' based on gender, geographical location and poverty. Specifically, among the 11 - 18 year old's 67.6 percent are boys reported having online acc...

Australian mother accused of murdering adult children

24Jan

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

World

Australian mother accused of murdering adult children

An Australian woman has been accused of murdering two of her children and torturing a third, in alleged crimes that spanned at least five years. Maree Crabtree, 51, was arrested on Queensland's Gold Coast on Wednesday. Police allege she killed her daughter, 18, in 2012, and her son, 26, last year. Both had disabilities. Authorities alleged Ms Crabtree was motivated by financial gain. Her lawyer, Emily Lewsey, said she would vigorously defend the charges. Queensland Police said another of Ms Crabtree's daughters, now 25, had been tortured, causing her to suffer "significant harm over a significant period of time". They did not detail the nature of any allegations. "These are pre-meditated and calculated, financially driven crimes," said Insp Mark Thompson. "They are not the ...

The Body Shop Sri Lanka partners with The Little Gym to share the Christmas goodwill

29Dec

By Faraz ShauketalyNo Comments

Business

The Body Shop Sri Lanka partners with The Little Gym to share the Christmas goodwill

The Body Shop Sri Lanka partnered with The Little Gym of Colombo to bring some Christmas joy and cheer to 25 young children and their caregivers. The evening of activities held on 14 December at The Little Gym gymnastics center in Colombo 2 was attended by children from Shanthi Maargam and the Voice Foundation. The children had an activity-filled evening at The Little Gym (TLG), with Director and CEO Shilpa Perera warmly welcoming them. The instructors at TLG spent a fun hour teaching the kids gymnastic skills, and touching upon the importance of being a good citizen as a child, especially when it comes to sharing and taking turns. The enrichment and physical development center for children aged 4 months to 12 years uses movement based learning and imaginative play to build confidenc...