Sri Lanka, Oct. 1 -- Following is a message from Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj on the occasion of World Children's Day:

"The true development of a country is reflected in the smiles of the children who live in it. Behind every smile on a child's face lies a dream, a hope, and an aspiration for a better tomorrow.

"As adults, we must always remember that what we should see in our children is "who they are and who they aspire to become," rather than "who we are" or who we could not become.

"The main objective of this year's World Children's Day theme, 'Strong Minds - Enriched Children', is to remind us of our social responsibility to restore to children the mental freedom, moral development and, above all, the p...