Pregnant schoolgirls:

Ministry probe follows Daily News expose

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Child Development and Women’s Empowerment Minister Sumedha G. Jayasena has ordered the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) to conduct a full investigation on the incident of 30 school girls from Badulla district becoming pregnant. This shocking revelation was made by the Daily News on Thursday.

The sources said that Minister Jayasena had ordered to track down all the men who made the schoolgirls pregnant and file cases against them. She has also ordered to give them in marriage to the same persons who made them pregnant after consulting both parties and seeking the possibility of doing so with the consent of parents or guardians.

This will be done after considering all aspects and if it the best option for the abused girls.

It was revealed that 30 school girls belong to innocent poor farming families in the Badulla district have become pregnant after they were deceived by organised gangs consist of three wheeler drivers, lottery sellers, private bus drivers and private bus conductors.