Ministry sets up 24 hour hotline for women

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

The Child Development and Women's Empowerment Ministry will introduce a 24-hour hotline for women aiming to stop abuse and violence against women, Minister Tissa Karaliyadda told the Daily News.

The Ministry will introduce the hotline considering the increase in the number of abuse against women and the need to safeguard rights.

Preliminary arrangements are under way to introduce hotline.

The hotline will be free of charge and can be contacted 24-hours from any telephone network, the Minister added.

"Anyone can contact the hotline for any sort of women-related issues such as abuse, harassment and complaints.

The hotline will also have free of charge counselling service," Karaliyadda said.Women who need counselling can contact the Ministry for counselling service.

The women will then be assisted by experts.

The National Child Protection Authority of Child Development and Women's Empowerment Ministry has already introduced a 'Child Line' hotline.