The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has decided to review the ongoing legal proceedings and matters relating to the protection of the minor involved in the sexual abuse case reported from the Anuradhapura area.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus chaired by Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj in Parliament yesterday (25).

Accordingly, a special discussion has been scheduled for 5 June with the participation of relevant institutions, including the Sri Lanka Police, the Attorney General’s Department, the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), and the Department of Probation and Child Care Services.

According to a statement issued by Parliament, in addition to the incident, which has generated considerable public concern, the discussion is expected to focus extensively on strengthening the legal framework and enhancing the capacity of institutions responsible for preventing violence against women and children.

Meanwhile, the caucus has also decided to appoint a subcommittee to oversee future legal proceedings related to the Anuradhapura case and identify the institutional and legal reforms required to address and prevent violence against women and children in Sri Lanka.

The subcommittee will be led by the deputy co-chairs of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus, MPs Samanmali Gunasinghe and Attorney-at-Law Chamindrani Kiriella.

The remaining members of the subcommittee are Hemali Weerasekara, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathna, Attorney-at-Law Sagarika Athauda, Attorney-at-Law Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law Nilusha Lakmali Gamage, Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayasinghe, Attorney-at-Law Anushka Thilakarathna, Attorney-at-Law Hasara Liyanage, Attorney-at-Law Hiruni Wijesinghe, and Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra.