• Articles criminalizing  sexual assault and all forms of sexual harassment to be included in the Penal Code

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to amend the existing laws to make soliciting sexual bribe a criminal offence, Minister Bandula Gunawardana said. Laws will also be drafted to introduce stricter punishment for the offence of sexual harassment, he added.   

According to the proposal tabled by the Minister of Justice, the legal draftsmen will be instructed to include articles criminalizing sexual assault and all forms of sexual harassment in the Penal Code. Special focus will be drawn to introducing a new section to mete out stricter punishment for sexual harassment and sexual bribery offences.