Growing serious crime and tackling crimes against Women

The past few years has seen a spike in serious criminal activity in our country. Statistics reveal that in 2021 alone, 522 murders were reported. More recently between 2024 and the first few months of this year, 66 persons were killed in over 100 incidents reported across the country. 

Of these, 13 deaths occurred in organised crime-related shootings involving the underworld over the last three months alone. Police have reportedly arrested more than 50 suspects in connection with these murders and recovered 20 T-56 firearms during investigations.

During the past month two sensational events overtook this country. First we witnessed the brazen killing of an underworld gangster in the well of Court. Despite law officers and prison guards being present at the site of the crime, the murderer calmly walked out of Court and drove into the sunset so-to-say. 

The killer was subsequently apprehended, but his female accomplice who handed him the murder weapon and was also present at the scene of the crime is still at large. She is cocking a snook at the forces of law and order.  

Perhaps we should say law and disorder, as presently the Inspector General of Police (IGP) is now the focus of a manhunt in connection with the killing of a member of the police force. Media reports claim that the IGP was running a criminal network using police officers under his command. The Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) has accused the IGP of running a ‘paramilitary force’. 

Should not someone be held responsible for appointing an individual whom the DSG accuses of running a ‘paramilitary force’ as head of the Lankan police force?

Believe it or not, though an arrest warrant has been issued for the arrest of the IGP, and the whole of our police force hunting for its chief, there is neither hide nor hair of that individual the police have turned up. Not strange then that armed robberies and house break-ins are on the increase countrywide. 

The sensational style of reporting of these crimes has unfortunately led to the under-reporting of crimes of a far more serious and nefarious nature - crimes against women and children in our country. 

In the eleven months up to 5 January this year, Lanka recorded 2,937 crimes against children, including 1,526 cases of rape and 544 instances of serious sexual abuse.

The Women’s Wellbeing Survey shows that 1 in 5 (20.4%) women in Sri Lanka have experienced sexual and/or physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Again, one in four women (24.9%) in Sri Lanka have experienced sexual and/or physical violence since the age of 15.

The recent rape of a female doctor by an army deserter in the Anuradhapura hospital shocked the country. Unfortunately military personnel have been accused of rape during the ethnic war. None have been charged. 

Sections of the media reported Minister Wijepala assuring Parliament that legal action would be taken. Why did the minister have to reassure parliament that legal action would be taken against the ex-soldier? Isn’t it a normal course of events that legal action follows the arrest of rape suspects? 

Or, was it perhaps to reassure the country in light of the impunity rapists enjoyed during the dark days of the ethnic war, that those bad old days are now past. If this is so, it is heartening. Past victims may now look forward to their abusers being brought to justice.

With the country’s medical fraternity taking strike action to protest the rape of a female doctor within the confines of the hospital, government called the doctors to resume their duties. The doctors responded positively. But the country is yet to learn any new measures the government is taking to protect the women of our country from rapists and like-minded predators who stalk the mothers and daughters of Lanka.

Will our new leaders let us know what practical steps they intend taking to ensure the safety of women in our country?