The proposed law on punishing child abuse is not targeted at schools or teachers but aims to protect children across society, Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said.
Speaking at a program held at the Ministry of Education on Friday (27) to brief principals of national schools, Amarasuriya explained that the amendment addresses both physical and psychological abuse faced by children in schools, institutions, police custody, and homes.
“This is not a law designed against schools or teachers. It is a reform intended for the protection of all children in society,” she said.
The Prime Minister stressed that the law does not ban discipline in schools. “We have not stopped punishment or maintaining discipline. What we say is that punishment should not be through physical or psychological violence. There are many positive ways to maintain discipline without subjecting children to harm or humiliation,” she added.
Amarasuriya also highlighted broader social concerns, noting that violence has become a dominant means of resolving conflict in the country. “Domestic violence is rising, and conflicts in homes, institutions, and even religious spaces are being settled through aggression. That is extremely dangerous. As a society, we need to move beyond violence to resolve our problems,” she said.
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of workshops and discussions to introduce non-violent methods of maintaining discipline and called for a societal shift towards building a more developed and compassionate environment for children.
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