by Prof. Harendra de Silva
Chairman, National Child Protection Authority

Child abuse is a phenomenon that has prevailed for centuries but has captured worldwide attention only in the past few decades. After many years of denial, Sri Lanka too has recognised the existence of many forms of violence and cruelty against children and the long and short-term ill effects of abuse on children.

The effects both physical and psychological could last throughout their life.

Violence leading to violence, carried over from generation to generation has a cascading outcome, with unthinkable but, yet unappreciated health and socio-economic burden to individuals, family, society and countries.

When we think deep and laterally about these consequences, there is no doubt of the need to prevent child abuse in our societies. An allocation of resources for prevention of child abuse is therefore an important 'investment' considering the savings in terms of long and short-term health and socio-economic costs.

In 1994, the then Chief Minister of the Western Province, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga took up the issue of sexual exploitation of children by foreigners and discussed the matter with NGOs.

Chief Minister Kumaratunga was then elected President, and the commitment of the President and the Cabinet to the cause of child abuse was reflected in the Penal Code (Amendment) Act No. 22 of 1995.

The highlight of the amendment was a provision that strengthened the law governing sexual offences and offences against children. These amendments concentrated on (a) defining offences that were previously not defined or described adequately; (b) increasing sentences; and (c) introducing mandatory jail sentences for some offences.

Although Sri Lanka was a signatory to the CRC in 1991, actual political commitment to child protection with allocation of resources was made only after the appointment of a Presidential Task-Force by the President in December 1996.

The task force recommended several legal amendments.

One of the most important recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on Child Protection was the establishment of a National Child Protection Authority (NCPA).

The NCPA bill was presented in Parliament in August 1998 and was passed unanimously in November 1998. (National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) Act, 1998). It was gazetted in January 1999. The board was appointed in June 1999.

The NCPA has a wide mandate in all aspects of prevention and action as regards child abuse. The NCPA functions directly under the administration of the President.

Once during a casual discussion, the late Deshamanya, Dr. Neville Kanekeratne, lawyer, diplomat and Governor of the Southern Province, said; "Politicians focus their attention only on the next election, but a 'Statesman' would always think of the next generation".

Therefore it is pertinent to apply this statement to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's commitment to protect the future generation; the children of Sri Lanka.