Violence Against Children Has No Place in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka recorded over 15,000 reports of child abuse in 2024, a staggering figure that officials say represents only the tip of the iceberg. 

Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Saroja Paulraj, called for urgent and systemic reform, declaring that violence against children has no place in Sri Lanka.

Speaking on the country’s renewed commitment to child protection, Minister Paulraj revealed that the National Child Protection Authority helpline received more than 8,700 calls, while police registered over 6,400 complaints of child abuse last year.

“Yet, we all recognise that these figures only represent the visible surface of a much deeper challenge,” she said. “Many cases remain unreported, hidden in silence, fear or stigma.”

Under the National Policy Framework 2025, the government is rolling out a series of reforms to strengthen the child protection system and ensure that every child grows up in safety and dignity. These include:

A responsive system for reporting and following up on child abuse
Child-sensitive mechanisms for testimonials and investigations
Stronger coordination between child protection agencies
Increased professional capacity across the sector

Minister Paulraj stressed the need to move beyond bureaucratic processes and focus on the emotional and psychosocial needs of children.

“Children are not case numbers or files. They are individuals with feelings, resilience and potential. They deserve holistic, compassionate care.”

Sri Lanka also made four major pledges at the 2024 Inter-Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children in Bogotá:

Establish a continuum of child-sensitive services for survivors
Strengthen the social services workforce
Ban corporal punishment in all settings by mid-2025
Promote safe schools as part of a broader violence prevention agenda

These pledges were shaped through consultations with over 1,200 children, ensuring that their voices guided the reform agenda.

To support this vision, the Ministry has already increased allocations for children in institutions and reunification efforts. 

Further budgetary support is planned in the 2026 national budget, particularly for expanding the new model and professionalizing child protection officers.