Karaliyadda suggest death penalty for child abusers, rapists

By Saman Indrajith

Child Development and Women’s Affairs Minister Tissa Karaliyadda yesterday told re Parliament that he had made representations to the Justice Ministry to impose the death penalty on those found guilty for child abuse and rape.

The Minister, in a reply during an adjournment debate on the increasing incidents of child abuse and crimes against children said that the Government was mulling the re-enactment of capital punishment. Necessary initiatives had already been taken in this respect.

The Minister said that a request had been made to impose death penalty or rigorous life imprisonment on those convicted of child abuse and abuse of women. A proposal had been made to the Justice Ministry to impose the death penalty for serious crimes related to child abuse. The Minister said that they expected to draft regulations and implement them in the near future.

MP Senanayake, moving the motion, said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had pledged to upgrade the lives and bring in a programme by the name ‘Kantha Pilisarana’ to protect the rights of women. Though there were so many such namesake programmes, the crimes against women and children increased very rapidly.

Matara District MP Buddhika Pathirana said that the guest houses and lodges were mushrooming in provinces and they were the service providers for the rapists and sexual criminals. Most of those houses of ill fame belonged either to politicians or their relatives.

TNA MP M. Sumanthiran said there was hardly a day without hearing of child abuse. It is so unfortunate that there is no proper institution or practical method to help those victims to lead a normal life. Though there were namesake organisations for women and child protection they have no funds to engage in the tasks and projects meant to achieve their obejctives.

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