Cabinet approves amendments to ban physical punishments

Colombo,June 11 (Daily Mirror)- The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to amend key legislation to ban physical punishments causing physical injuries across all sectors in Sri Lanka.

At its meeting held on April 29, 2024, the Cabinet approved a resolution submitted by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979. 

The proposed amendment will introduce provisions explicitly prohibiting physical punishments that result in bodily harm, thereby strengthening legal protections against such practices in any institutional, domestic, or public setting.

In a parallel decision, the Cabinet also granted approval to amend the Penal Code (19th Authority) to address concerns over the physical and mental harm inflicted by physical punishments, particularly on children. 

Scientific evidence has long highlighted the severe and lasting impact of such disciplinary measures. Accordingly, the Cabinet approved the draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman’s Department, which introduces specific penalties for acts of physical punishment and enforces a comprehensive ban on such practices.

While the draft bill had previously been prepared, it had not yet been published or submitted to Parliament. Recognizing the urgency of this legislative reform, the Cabinet has now authorized the publication of the draft Penal Code (Amended) in the government gazette and its subsequent submission to Parliament for enactment.