Rise in child abuse in NCP

Gayan Rajapaksa

A high incidence of child abuse cases involving underage children are reported from the North Central Province, Provincial Commissioner of Probation and Childcare Services Visaka S Siriwardena said.

Addressing a workshop on crime prevention for media personnel in Anuradhapura recently, she said most victimised children were in the age group of 12 to 16 years. She said the North Central Province occupied the second place as regards the number of child abuse cases reported compared to other provinces.

"There maybe more such cases which go unreported. One contributory factor may be the absence of mothers from many homes due to migration for foreign employment. Therefore, elders in particular, should help arrest this trend by taking more interest and care about their children and young ones," she said.

Siriwardena said media persons who did a splendid job supporting the Security Forces during the humanitarian operation to defeat terrorism, could play a big role in helping the country to overcome child abuse as well by creating a proper awareness about it among the people.