The number of adolescent pregnancies in Sri Lanka has increased to 213 in 2024, up from 167 in 2023, according to DIG Renuka Jayasundara, head of the Bureau for the Investigation of Abuse of Children and Women.
Speaking on Ada Derana’s Big Focus program, DIG Jayasundara noted that while child pregnancies have risen, the overall number of reported cases of child sexual abuse has remained relatively stable, with 1,237 cases in 2023 and 1,254 in 2024.
She highlighted that the most frequently reported offense involves the rape of females under 16 following romantic relationships, often occurring with consent.
“Just as the young mother becomes a victim, the child born as a result also becomes a victim. These children often drop out of the education system. This situation should be discussed in particular,” she emphasized.
Additionally, she reported a rise in cases of cruelty toward children, which increased from 103 in 2023 to 123 in 2024.
