05 Jul 2015

Botswana and Sri Lanka continue to enjoy cordial relations on issues of mutual interest and human development.

The establishment of a charitable trust funded by the Sri Lanka Honorary Consul in Botswana, and many other existing partnerships and support were evident enough that the two countries have cordial relations. 

The Bana Ba Botswana Trust was established to promote health care, social and economic support for children in Botswana without discrimination of any kind and also to assist in the development of institutions, facilities and service for the care of children.

The trust also seeks to provide educational support for children as well as promote voluntarism and create a team of volunteers to support the child welfare activities of the trust in collaboration with Thebe Primary School and the Social Welfare unit of Gaborone City Council.

Bana Ba Botswana also intends to raise funds to finance programmes for the benefit of children and establish an institution for the reception of children in need of care and to provide care, maintenance, education and vocational training for juveniles.

Speaking at the launch of the trust, Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele said these were commendable efforts which resonated well with government commitment towards the protection of the rights of the children as espoused by the UN Charter and domesticated through Botswana’s Children’s Act 2008.

He said such initiatives were a testimony of the cordial diplomatic relations that existed between the two countries.

Mr Makgalemele also commended the Sri Lankan community in Botswana, through their social outreach programme initiated in 2014, which they managed to register the society of small entrepreneur.

Furthermore, Mr Makgalemele said it was only through such initiatives that the country could move towards the realisation of the national vision pillar of a ‘Compassionate, just and caring nation’ to achieve dignity for all.

Meanwhile, the Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Botswana, Mr Chula Dahanayake said Sri Lankans have lived and worked in Botswana since independence and contributed towards the development of the country. ENDS