The number of reported cases of child rape and abuse has increased by five per cent with upto 975 cases reported in the last six months, Police media spokesman Ajith Rohana said.

Of those cases 700 were related to child molestation, he said.

Mr. Rohana said that children were vulnerable to encounter such perpetrators on the internet when they are left unattended at home through social network sites such as Facebook or through the use of mobile phones.

He also said that pornographic material influenced the behavior of perpetrators and he also called for tougher laws to combat this problem.
 
The Police spokesman also said that 1775 cases of rape were reported last year, of which 1169 were related to children.

Up to ninety per cent of those suspects had been taken into custody, he said. (ISA)