The Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, requested that the “Manohari” Project — which provides life skills training for students and parenting skills training for parents — be expanded to other educational zones across the Northern Province.
A special discussion on the Manohari Project, currently being implemented for students in the Northern and Eastern Provinces in collaboration with the Jaffna University Medical School Alumni Association to support the mental health development of schoolchildren, was held today- on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, at the Northern Province Governor’s Secretariat.
The Governor continued his comments:
“In the past, students spent most of their time at school or within the school environment. As a result, they were able to excel in various fields. Today, however, that is no longer the case. Neither students nor parents appear to have long-term goals.
Similarly, there was once a highly dedicated teaching community. That level of commitment, too, has declined over time.
Today, even simple physical activity has become a challenge for many students. Parents drop their children at the school gate at 7:30 a.m. and return to pick them up at 1:30 p.m. They are often unwilling to allow their children to walk even a short distance.”
“This programme on mental health development for school students is extremely important. There remains a widespread misconception about mental health at the community level, and this mindset must change. The programme, which is currently being implemented in the Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts, should be expanded to the other districts of the Northern Province,” he said.
During the discussion, Dr. C. Navaneethan provided an overview of the mental health–related life skills training being carried out for students in the Northern and Eastern Provinces in collaboration with the Jaffna University Medical School Alumni Association.
He stated “Many families today are experiencing dysfunction as a result of the civil war, trauma, and displacement. They continue to struggle with mental health challenges, including high levels of stress. The primary objective of this project is to equip students with essential life skills related to mental health.
This is a comprehensive initiative focused on the holistic personality development of students. It promotes critical thinking skills that help them distinguish between right and wrong. The programme encourages students to think ahead, consider the consequences of their actions, and channel their attention toward constructive pursuits. It also guides them in setting future goals and working diligently towards achieving them.”
Under this programme, 43 sessions were conducted across seven education zones in the Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts in 2025, during which 127 teachers received training. It was further noted that the teachers trained through this initiative will, in turn, provide training to students and parents.
The discussion was attended by the Secretary to the Governor, the Secretary to the Provincial Ministry of Education, the Provincial Director of Education, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, the Assistant Secretary from the Governor’s Secretariat, Zonal Directors of Education, and several other officials.
