Capital punishment for child abuse vital

by S.M. Wijayaratne, Kurunegala Cor.

"Capital punishment should be imposed on those who abduct and rape underaged children in the country. New laws should be introduced to punish such criminals. National child Protection Authority Chairman, Mrs. Anoma Dissanayake has called upon the authorities to impose capital punishment of such human beasts", said the former Divisional Secretary for Bingiriya W.E. Jayathilake. He was addressing a meeting of school heads of the Kurunegala district to educate them on ways and means of checking sexual harassment and violence against children. Jayathilake said that there is an upward trend in this type of crime and court cases should be concluded as early as possible.

About 178 cases of child abuse and violence had been reported to police stations in the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts of the NWP during the past 18 months.

Ninety percent of such criminals have been punished. School authorities and parents should be on the alert crimes of this nature.

About 800 school heads, 4,200 senior school teachers and 8,000 senior prefects of government schools in the Kurnegala and Puttalam districts of the NWP have been enlightened on the preventive measures and legal action should be taken in the event such crime takes place, Jayathilake said.