Sri Lanka’s post-disaster recovery initiatives, including the government’s “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” and “Healing Sri Lanka” programs, received international recognition at the inaugural Global Caregiver Forum 2026 in Madrid, Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj said.
The programs, aimed at restoring normalcy for families affected by the country’s recent major natural disaster, were highlighted by state leaders and experts from around the world for their focus on both infrastructure recovery and psychosocial support for children and caregivers.
Speaking at the closing plenary session, Minister Paulraj noted that “Healing Sri Lanka” was designed by the Women and Child Affairs Ministry as a parallel initiative to strengthen the psychosocial well-being of affected families, helping parents and caregivers heal while ensuring children receive quality care and protection.
The two-day forum, held under the patronage of Spain’s Queen Letizia and organised in collaboration with UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and the LEGO Foundation, brought together global experts to develop strategies for early childhood development and caregiving.
Minister Paulraj participated as a panelist alongside Kazakhstan’s Health Vice Minister Aliya Rustemova, CEO of Triple P Positive Parenting Programme Matt Buttery, Portugal’s Catarina Magalhães of Boavista Training and Development Centre, and Fergal Landy of Ireland’s Family Resource Centre National Forum.
The Sri Lankan delegation also included Nilushika Dhanasekara, Director of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, and Shashikala Sumudu Kumari Ratnayake, Education Officer at UNICEF Sri Lanka.
( Source: lankaleader.lk)
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