August 16, Colombo (LNW): The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has raised concerns over a sharp increase in complaints relating to child abuse, with more than 1,000 cases reported during June and July alone.
Attorney-at-Law Sajeewani Abeykoon, Director of Law Enforcement at the NCPA, said the recent figures represented a significant departure from the authority’s usual monthly caseload, which generally stands between 600 and 800 complaints.
She said many of the complaints received during the two-month period involved children being abandoned, while urging parents and guardians to remain particularly vigilant during the ongoing school holidays.
Abeykoon stressed that children could face increased risks both within their homes and through digital platforms during the holiday period. She called on parents to pay closer attention to their children’s online activities and overall wellbeing, while creating an environment in which youngsters feel safe speaking about problems they encounter.
Official figures also indicate a year-on-year increase in complaints. The NCPA had recorded 4,950 complaints by July 2025, whereas the figure has risen to 5,687 during the corresponding period this year.
Abeykoon said parents dealing with children who display difficult behaviour should avoid corporal punishment and instead adopt disciplinary methods that protect a child’s dignity and self-esteem.
She also recommended that parents familiarise themselves with Shiksa, a publication produced by the NCPA’s Mental Health Unit, which provides guidance on managing children’s behaviour and wellbeing.
Meanwhile, children who feel threatened, abused or otherwise unsafe can seek help directly through the NCPA’s 1929 hotline. The service operates around the clock and is available in three languages, allowing children to seek assistance confidentially without necessarily involving an adult first.
Abeykoon urged the public to treat the hotline as an important protection mechanism and cautioned against making false or malicious complaints, which could divert attention and resources away from children genuinely in need of assistance.