Over 108,000 child abuse complaints reported in Sri Lanka over a decade 

A total of 108,581 child abuse complaints were reported to the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) between 2015 and 2025, Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj told Parliament today (23).

Responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa under Standing Order 27/2, the Minister said that 4,421 child abuse cases were pending before the High Courts as of April 30, 2026, with indictments already filed against the accused.

She said the NCPA is working with 47 Police Child and Women Protection Bureaus through the Police Children and Women Abuse Prevention Division to speed up the hearing and disposal of these cases.

The Minister also outlined measures aimed at improving the protection of child victims during legal proceedings. She said authorities are taking steps to record video evidence from children in safe and child-friendly environments, allowing the recordings to be submitted as evidence in court instead of requiring children to testify in person.

Discussions are currently underway with the Ministry of Health and Mass Media and other relevant stakeholders to identify suitable locations for the establishment of nine provincial video evidence recording units.

Meanwhile, the NCPA revealed that it received 5,523 complaints involving children during the first six months of 2026, covering the period from January 1 to June 30.

According to the authority, the complaints included 1,100 cases of child cruelty, 60 cases of aggravated sexual abuse, 213 complaints of sexual harassment, 99 cases of unlawful abduction of children, 100 complaints related to the commercial sexual exploitation of children, 82 cases of child labour, 40 cases of teenage pregnancies, five cases of child marriages, 112 complaints of cyber violence against children, and 13 cases involving attempted suicide by children.

The NCPA said the figures underscore the continued need to strengthen child protection mechanisms and ensure timely legal action against offenders.