Over 4,000 child abuse cases pending in Sri Lankan High Courts: NCPA

In most cases the abuser is not a stranger but someone well-known to the child

A recent report by the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has revealed a staggering backlog of legal cases related to child abuse in Sri Lanka. Currently, there are 4,289 cases filed by the Attorney General pending in High Courts across the island. 

The cases involve serious offences under the Criminal Procedure Code, including obscene publications involving minors, sexual exploitation, rape, and grave sexual abuse. It was revealed that in January alone, 1,683 of these cases were called for hearing. 

Chairperson of NCPA Preethi Inoka Ranasinghe said that the highest number of these ongoing cases are being heard in the High Courts of Galle, Kurunegala, and Kandy.

She said that the threat is not limited to a specific gender, with both girls and boys facing equal risks of abuse. 

“In 99% of the cases reaching the High Courts, the abuser is not a stranger but someone well-known to the child, often a close family member or a trusted individual,” she said. 

The NCPA have issued a strong plea to parents to remain vigilant, warning that children often need protection from those who have already won their trust.