COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday launched Sri Lanka's first ever radio channel dedicated to children showing his commitment towards children's development after dedicating the year 2006 for children and setting up a separate Ministry for children.

The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation's Vidula channel is the first ever radio channel in Sri Lanka as well as in Asia dedicated for the children.

Inaugurating the Vidula radio channel from Temple Trees, President Rajapakse said he was happy that the SLBC could launch this new radio channel in 2006, declared Children's Year by his Government.

"The launch of this new radio channel is the second most meaningful step taken by me as the leader of the country towards the uplift of children after setting up a separate Ministry," the President added. "I believe Vidula will play an exemplary role in improving the knowledge and moral values among children in the country playing an opposite role to the other radio channels which are blamed by critics for the deterioration of the culture and the language," the President added.

He said the radio channel will help improve the talents and creativity of children undergoing their education at under-privileged schools in remote parts of the country joining with the regional radio services.

"Children's views should be given priority when taking decisions on them going against the present trend of adults taking decisions on children," the President added.

"I firmly believe that this radio channel should be expanded to the areas in the North and East for the benefit of the children in that part too.

I believe that the SLBC has the capacity and resources to do fulfil that task," the President remarked.

Information and Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Secretary to Information and Media Ministry W.B. Ganegala also spoke at the inauguration ceremony. SLBC Chairman Sunil Sarath Perera was also present.

from Daily News