Tough legal action in offing:

No renting out rooms to underage persons

Yasaratne GAMAGE

The Police will take strict legal action against the proprietors, managers and servants of guest houses and lodging houses who aid child abusers by renting out rooms to them, Police Media Spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said yesterday.

Most of the rape cases and child abuse incidents reported in the recent past took place in guest house and lodges and the lodge owners and servants are also responsible for the crimes, he added.

The Police request the guest house and lodge keepers not to rent rooms to underage persons or an underage girl accompanied by an adult.

If some one hires a room purposely with the knowledge that the visitor is an underage person, they are liable for legal action.

According to the law, they can be arrested and action filed against them for abetting in a crime. The amended penal code of 2006/16 , chapter 286 states that if some one notices a certain place where child abuse takes place , the incident should be informed to the nearest police station, the Police Media Spokesman further said.

Those who aid child abuse by providing room facilities can be sentenced to two years' imprisonment, he added. The Police Media Spokesman also requested the guest house and lodge owners to check the national identity card to ascertain their age and if the girl is an underage girl it is their duty to inform the Police. The Inspector General of Police in a circular, will notify all senior DIGs to take strict action against child abusers.