Cruelty accounts for most child abuse cases in Sri Lanka

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

Cruelty has remained the most frequently reported form of child abuse to the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) over the past 15 years, according to official statistics released by the Department of Census and Statistics.  

The data, covering the period from 2010 to 2024, shows that cruelty consistently recorded the highest number of complaints among all categories of child abuse.   

Reported cases increased from 905 in 2010 to a peak of 2,741 in 2021 before declining to 1,950 in 2024.   

Despite the recent drop, cruelty continued to account for the largest share of complaints received by the NCPA.  

Statistics also reveal that non-compulsory education was the second most commonly reported issue, with cases rising from 452 in 2010 to 1,628 in 2024.   

Reports relating to lack of care and protection also remained high throughout the years, while complaints of grave sexual abuse, rape and sexual harassment continued to number in the hundreds annually.  

According to data, the NCPA also received complaints related to child labour, child marriages, kidnapping, domestic violence, trafficking, juvenile delinquency, online sexual abuse, procuring, soliciting of children and several other forms of abuse and neglect.  

Although complaints in some categories have declined in recent years, the figures indicate that thousands of children continue to be affected by abuse, neglect and exploitation each year.