5 July 2023 02:50 pm Views - 1004
Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe revealed that 33 percent of the total lawsuits in High Courts in Sri Lanka are child abuses and rape cases which was a situation to be ashamed of as a nation.
He told Parliament that there were 29,723 lawsuits before High Courts out of which 5,550 are child abuses while 4,312 are rape cases.
"A total of 9,662 lawsuits out of 29,723 total cases before High Courts are child abuses and rape cases which is 33 percent. We, as Sri Lankans, should be ashamed of and regret this situation.These figures expose the culture of the people to other countries. We must take action to stop these wrongdoings," he said.
The Minister said strict laws have been introduced for the safety of children where 25 laws were enacted by Parliament during the last ten months.
He said cases on murders and attempted murder and dangerous drugs make up 6,661 out of the total of 29,723 cases which is 22 percent.
The Minister said 55 percent out of the total of 29,723 cases before High Courts are child abuses, rape, murder, attempted murder and dangerous drugs cases.
He said some 1,127,265 total cases were pending in the judicial system in Sri Lanka and added that there were only 399 judges from the Supreme Court to the Magistrate's Courts to attend to these cases. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)