Child abuse cases on the rise in Uva Province

By Palitha Ariyawansa

Colombo, May 26 (Daily Mirror) - According to the Department of Probation and Child Care, 80 child abuse cases have been reported from the Uva Province in the last five months.

Uva Province Commissioner of Probation and Childcare, Theekshana Edirisuriya said it was a matter of serious concern that 604 victims of child abuse have been detained at 18 institutions. She said they were under the care of children’s homes, certified schools, counseling and training centres for girls and detention centres.

During the public awareness programme launched by the Department of Probation, that included the pasting of a QR code in sticker in buses and public places in Badulla last morning to identify unprotected children, she told the media that incidents of child abuse in Wellawaya and Monaragala areas have been on the rise.

The programme was implemented with the help of the Badulla police and the Road Passenger Transport Authority.

The Commissioner of Probation and Childcare said 186 cases have been pending in Courts for the year and that it includes 80 cases of sexual abuse and abduction, and 60 others relating to custody and protection.

“ If the children wanting protection were identified early, the risk could be minimized. We launched a public awareness programme to introduce a QR code and the phone numbers to provide information to obtain cooperation in our endeavour to provide protection to children. Many children are at risk due to the failure on the part of parents to provide adequate protection” The official further said.

HQI Badulla police CI Chanaka Chirandjeewa Wijeratne, Chairman of the Uva Province Road Passenger Transport Authority Senaka Fernando were present.