Tough action against child pornography

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the Inspector General of Police to take tangible and tough measures to curb child pornography in Sri Lanka, including capture and posting on the internet of photographs and video clips of unsuspecting persons, especially minors and women.

The President issued this directive after it was brought to his notice that there were many websites containing such material, much of it obtained in clear violation of the law and moreover antithetical to accepted norms in Sri Lankan society.

Computer aided pornographic material is prohibited in Sri Lanka as per the Computer Crimes Act which is already in place.

Existing laws have also been amended to curb the exploitation of underage children, even with their consent. The Government will also expand and strengthen the ambit of the law by special legislation aimed at eliminating this social menace.

The Government will obtain the services of experts as well as one or more state institutions which have the technical know-how and other necessary facilities to monitor such activity, locate servers hosting such websites, track individuals and organized crime groups posting on such sites and assist the law enforcement authorities in this endeavour.

The Government is strongly and unconditionally committed to create an environment where children can grow up without such exploitation their dignity being violated in any manner, by paedophiles and those engaged in cyber crimes.