Sri Lanka’s National Child Protection Authority has revealed alarming figures of child abuse, sexual exploitation, and pregnancies in the first seven months of this year, sparking urgent calls for stronger child protection measures.
The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has sounded the alarm over a sharp increase in reported child abuse cases across Sri Lanka. Between January 1 and July 31, the NCPA recorded 141 serious cases of child sexual abuse, 330 incidents of sexual harassment, and 32 cases of child rape. Adding to the concern, 44 cases of child pregnancies were also reported within the same period.
According to the NCPA, a total of 5,461 complaints were received in just seven months. Of these, 4,501 were directly linked to violations of the Child Protection Act, while 960 complaints fell outside its scope.
The most common form of abuse reported was child cruelty, accounting for 1,126 complaints. Other serious cases included 125 reports of child trafficking, 82 instances of child labour, 81 cases of cyber abuse targeting minors, and 10 reports involving child self-harm.
These statistics highlight the growing threats to children’s safety in Sri Lanka and the urgent need for stronger legal enforcement, awareness campaigns, and community-level protection. The NCPA has emphasized that immediate action is critical to safeguarding children from abuse and exploitation in both physical and digital environments.
