Penal Code Amendment will decriminalize Child abuse- Civil Group

• Omitting the words “ any man, woman” in the proposed bill will automatically abolish the entire amendment

By Yohan Perera  

The proposed amendment to  Chapter 19 of Section 365 and 365A of the Penal Code, will lead to the decriminalization of child abuse, a Civil organization alleged yesterday.  

  Urban Citizens Organisation in a letter addressed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe said crime abuse will be decriminalized under the new amendment proposed in the new private members Bill presented by MP Premnath Dolawatta.   

“Section 365 in the principle enactment which states - “ whoever voluntarily has Carnal intercourse against order of nature with any man, woman, animal “ is proposed to be repealed and be substituted with - “ whoever voluntarily has Carnal intercourse against the order of nature with an animal shall be punished with imprisonment of either description of a term which may be extended to 10 years and shall also be liable to a fine”. Omitting the words “ any man, woman” in the proposed bill will automatically abolish the entire amendment brought under act number 22 of 1995.  In our view it automatically decriminalizes child abuse under section 365 and 365 (a),” the letter signed by Urban Citizens Chairperson Shermila Gonawala said.  

According to existing laws, in the event that any person above the age of 18 years commits the said “unnatural acts” against a child less than 16 years of age, it is a serious crime and is punishable.