The Department of Probation and Child Welfare Sri Lanka says 80 cases of child abuse have been reported from the Uva Province during the past five months alone.
Speaking to the media, Theekshana Edirisuriya stated that authorities are deeply concerned that 604 child victims of abuse are currently being housed in 18 institutions across the province.
According to the Commissioner, these children are being cared for in:
- Children’s homes
- Certified schools
- Girls’ counselling and training centres
- Detention centres
Authorities also noted an increase in child abuse incidents particularly in:
- Wellawaya
- Monaragala
Public Awareness Campaign Launched
The Probation Department yesterday (25) launched a public awareness initiative in the Badulla area by placing stickers containing QR codes and emergency contact details on buses and public locations to help identify vulnerable children and encourage public reporting.
The program was implemented jointly with:
- Sri Lanka Police
- Road Passenger Transport Authority
The Commissioner further revealed that:
- 186 child-related cases are currently pending before courts in the province this year
These include:
- 80 cases involving sexual abuse and abduction
- Around 60 cases related to child custody and protection
According to Edirisuriya:
“If children in need of protection are identified early, the risk to them can be minimized.”
She added that many children become vulnerable due to failures by guardians or parents to provide adequate protection and supervision.
Also participating in the awareness event were:
- Chanaka Chiranjeewa Wijeratne
- Senaka Fernando
Child protection authorities continue to urge the public to:
- Report suspected abuse early
- Support community-level protection efforts
- Remain alert to signs of neglect or exploitation involving children
