In line with ‘National Children’s Week – 2026’ operative from September 25^th to October 1^st, 2006, John Keells Foundation (JKF), in partnership with John Keells Properties, conducted a parental awareness programme under its community empowerment initiative John Keells Praja Shakthi in Colombo 2. The programme, which was held under the theme `Nurturing with Love – Protecting our Children’ on 30th September 2026 at the Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters Hall, focused on Child Protection through Positive Parenting encompassing aspects such as building a safe and nurturing environment for children, mitigating risks related to digital technology, addictions including substance abuse, neglect, and such other social vulnerabilities, equipping parents and community members with knowledge and practical tools to support the safety and wellbeing of children.

The programme was graced by DIG R. A. Darshika Kumari, Head of the Bureau for the Investigation of Abuse of Children & Women, and featured interactive sessions conducted by expert subject resources from LEADS and Humedica Lanka.

Welcoming the gathering, Carmeline Jayasuriya, Head of CSR, John Keells Group said, “Children today face a range of risks which threaten their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing and safety. It is imperative that parents, teachers, community leaders and service providers become aware of these challenges and take timely action. This programme is organised by John Keells Foundation together with John Keells Properties under John Keells Praja Shakthi – Colombo 2 through which many community empowerment initiatives have been conducted since 2019, complementing other long term initiatives of the Foundation such as Neighbourhood Schools Development Project and English Language Scholarship Programme (both active over the past 21 years), and Project WAVE which is aimed at combating gender-based violence and child abuse. Through our CSR initiatives, John Keells Foundation, together with Group businesses, will continue to work closely with communities around our businesses to understand their needs and undertake meaningful interventions.”

Addressing the audience, DIG R. A. Darshika Kumari said “Protecting children requires the collective responsibility of parents, schools and government institutions and the wider society. Awareness is an important first step in recognising risks and preventing abuse before it occurs. Initiatives such as this provide an opportunity to engage directly with communities and equip parents and caregivers with the knowledge they need to safeguard children. I truly appreciate the role played by John Keells Foundation, not only in organising such programmes, but also through its close collaboration with the Police over the years in strengthening community-level engagement and ensuring that children and families have access to the support they need.”

The first session focused on the importance of positive parenting and cyber safety. It explained the nature and types of child abuse and exploitation and underlined that positive parenting begins with building trust, confidence and open communication with children. At the same time, parents need to understand the digital spaces their children operate in and be aware of the risks they may face online.

The second session covered the concepts and risks associated with behavioural and material addictions including substance abuse. It underlined the importance of proper parental awareness and understanding, keen observation and early intervention in order to prevent and address such risks.

The community members who attended the programme actively engaged with the resource persons and expressed the need for further such awareness and supportive action in order to protect and safeguard their children.

Parallel to the community awareness programme, a social media campaign was also launched by John Keells Foundation in line with National Chidren’s Day, comprising a short video series covering digital safety, mental wellbeing, combating bullying and peer pressure, and substance abuse prevention.

Through programmes such as these, John Keells Foundation together with the businesses of the John Keells Group and other partners will continue to support families and communities with the knowledge and resources needed to help ensure that every child grows up in a safe and supportive environment, in furtherance of its vision `Empowering the Nation for Tomorrow’.

Education, Community & Livelihoods, Social Health & Cohesion, and Biodiversity are the four focus areas of John Keells Foundation - the CSR entity of John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH), the largest conglomerate listed on the CSE in terms of market capitalization operating over 80 companies in 7 diverse industry sectors. With a history of over 150 years, the John Keells Group provides employment to over 18,000 persons and has been ranked as Sri Lanka's 'Most Respected Entity' for the last 21 Years by LMD magazine. It has also been recognised as Sri Lanka's Most Loved Corporate Brand in the LMD Readers' Choice Awards for three consecutive years. Whilst being a full member of the World Economic Forum and a participant of the UN Global Compact, JKH drives its CSR vision of `Empowering the Nation for Tomorrow’ through John Keells Foundation and through the social entrepreneurship initiative, ‘Plasticcycle’, which is a catalyst in significantly reducing plastic pollution in Sri Lanka.

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