25 October 2023 10:38 pm Views - 1022
Half of child rape cases reported in the country have been committed by various drug users, Women and Child Affairs State Minister Geetha Kumarasinghe said.
She told the media yesterday that 168 rape cases of girls under 16 were reported in September, and 22 of them became pregnant. Fifteen of them were pregnant due to having sexual relationships with those of the same age. Seven of them were pregnant due to rape.
However, it is sad that 22 children who do not have legitimate fathers will come into this world, she said.
Most of those children were raped by their close associates, she added.
"For all these rape cases, the police should bear the responsibility. Meanwhile, the Acting Prisons Commissioner confirmed that most persons involved in the above number of rape cases were drug addicts," State Minister Kumarasinghe said.
"If most of the child rape cases occurred due to persons addicted to drugs, there is no point in farming Cannabis (Ganja) or exporting illicit liquor (moonshine). We should take action to protect our children from drug addicts," she said.
"As the subject minister, I will take all measures and actions against rape cases, sexual harassments, and domestic violence due to drug addicts," she said. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)