First 15 days in 2020 Hundreds of cases of rape, sexual abuse, child abuse reported

• Investigations into some of these cases have been completed

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

Some 142 incidents of rape, 42 of serious sexual abuse and 54 of child abuse have been reported from various police divisions in the country during the first 15 days of 2020, Parliament was informed yesterday.   

Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando said this in response to a question asked by UNP MP Hesha Withanage and pointed out that investigations into 78 incidents of rape, 21 of serious sexual abuse and 34 of child abuse have been completed so far. 

 
He said most of the cases of rape, serious sexual abuse and child abuse were reported from the Batticaloa police divisions while 44 cases of rape, eight cases serious sexual abuse and 17 cases of child abuse were reported from this police division during the first 15 days of this year.   Meanwhile, according to the statistics tabled by the Chief Government Whip, 11,998 incidents of rape, 4,806 of serious sexual abuse and 5,891 of child abuse were reported from 2012 to 2020. 

• Most of the cases of were reported from Batticaloa