Opposition Leader calls child abuse crisis a grave threat to children's rights

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stated in parliament yesterday (09) that unresolved child abuse issues have violated the fundamental rights of children in Sri Lanka, and that the country is bound by both domestic legal obligations and international commitments to protect those rights.

Serious inefficiencies within the child protection system, unresolved complaints and delayed judicial processes, he said, have placed children's fundamental rights at grave risk.

Speaking under Standing Order 27(2), Premadasa pointed out that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has not been enacted as a single law, and that the Juvenile Justice Amendment Act has also not been implemented, raising a number of concerns over the protection of children's rights.

The Opposition Leader called for data on child abuse complaints received by the National Child Protection Authority between January 01, 2015 and June 30, 2026, including how many had been investigated and referred for legal action, and how many remained unresolved.

He also requested figures on child abuse cases currently pending before High Courts as of June 30, 2026, broken down by cases in which indictments were filed within the past five years, between five and 10 years ago, and more than 10 years ago, along with details of special measures taken by the Government to expedite proceedings.

Premadasa questioned whether the current President had followed through on public promises to establish a special investigation unit for pending child abuse complaints, a Presidential Task Force for Children, and measures to strengthen the independence of the Child Protection Authority by resolving the conflict between the authority and the police.

He also asked what special programme the Ministry is implementing with the relevant institution to conclude such cases expeditiously, and whether a special police unit would be established to investigate pending complaints, as previously promised.

He called on the Government to outline the steps taken to fully implement the provisions of the National Child Protection Act and to make the institution independent and accountable.

He further requested that an expert committee be appointed to implement the National Child Protection Policy for 2025 to 2029, along with a firm date for its full implementation.

He also sought a date for the presentation and enforcement of legal amendments to abolish corporal punishment against children, and asked the Government to clarify how Sri Lanka is fulfilling its international obligations in this regard.

Premadasa said the current child protection situation should be recognised as a national crisis, and proposed a date for implementing a national operation with inter-ministerial coordination under the leadership of the President.

He noted that the majority of the Opposition had signed a public petition seeking justice for child victims, and requested that all members of Parliament do the same.