6,063 child abuse cases in the first 10 months: G.L.

Nearly 6,063 child abuse cases were reported within the first ten months of this year, Education Minister G.L. Peiris informed Parliament today.

He said this in response to a question asked by National People's Power (NPP) MP Harin Amarasuriya.
The minister said investigations had been launched into 3,900 such cases but the prosecution process had only been initiated in 330 cases.

He said the action taken on the reported cases were not satisfactory and highlighted the need to expedite the investigations and pointed out that a proper mechanism would be introduced to take action on child abuse cases.

"We have planned to establish a Children's Magistrate's Court in the nine provinces to handle such cases. Nine units to video record evidence will also be set up and launch a training programme for police officers involved in investigating child abuse cases," the minister said.(Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)