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Badulla among districts with highest child abuse cases, says Minister
By Mangala Pavithrani
Colombo, Feb. 9 (Daily Mirror) - Badulla District has been identified as one of the areas in Sri Lanka where children are most frequently subjected to abuse by their own parents, largely due to the absence of birth certificates, Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savitri Paulraj said.
Speaking at a programme held at the Badulla District Secretariat Auditorium, the Minister revealed that over 3,000 children living on estates remain without birth certificates, leaving many effectively unregistered in official records. She said steps have already been taken to issue these children with presumed age certificates.
“The highest number of cases of children being assaulted by their parents has been reported from Badulla. The main reasons are parental addiction to alcohol and drugs, as well as illiteracy,” the Minister added. She also noted that 103 children lost one or both parents due to Cyclone Ditwah, and a special programme has been launched under presidential instructions to ensure their care, protection, and future safety.
Meanwhile, a female officer from the Badulla Women and Children’s Unit said that by 2025, 83 cases of rape and child abuse had been reported in the district, along with 273 complaints of domestic violence. She warned that 51 children have become vulnerable after their parents migrated overseas, with many left in the care of elderly grandmothers, posing risks to their health and safety. Monthly monitoring has been introduced for these children under five categories.
With crimes against women and children on the rise, the Badulla Women and Children’s Unit has also launched a special programme to identify and support vulnerable families in the district.
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