A discussion to review the progress of projects implemented under the 2026 budget allocations for the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, and to consider budget proposals for 2027, has been held under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat.

During the meeting, yesterday (20), a comprehensive review has been conducted of the progress of recurrent and capital expenditure incurred in 2026 by institutions operating under the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, including the Women’s Bureau of Sri Lanka, the National Committee on Women, the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, the Department of Probation and Child Care Services, and the National Child Protection Authority, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

The President also reviewed the progress of the Ministry's key programmes implemented in 2026, including institutional care and guardianship, the cost-of-living allowance for street children, the nutritional food allowance programme for pregnant mothers, the preschool breakfast programme, and the 'Guru Abhimani' allowance programme for preschool teachers, the statement said.

The President  has stressed that the nutritional food allowance for pregnant mothers should not become merely another cash transfer scheme, but should instead be implemented under proper supervision to ensure that its intended objective of improving maternal nutrition is achieved.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of the programme providing a monthly allowance to children who lost their parents as a result of Cyclone Ditwah.

The President emphasized the need to ensure that the allowance is disbursed to the eligible children without delay, the PMD said.

The progress and implementation of the National Child Protection Authority's programme to identify vulnerable children within society and assist them in escaping such circumstances was also discussed.

Emphasizing the importance of maintaining an accurate data system, the President stated that allocations under the 2027 Budget are expected to be based on such a database, the PMD added.