Police launch operation to trace underaged domestics

On Jul 27, 2021

A special operation to check households in Colombo, suburbs and the entire Western Province, for clues of underaged children employed as domestic aides was initiated yesterday (27). Police Spokesman Senior DIG Ajith Rohana said the Police intend to conduct a special operation in the Colombo city and suburbs in the Western Province to trace underaged children employed as domestics.

“The recent incidents is an indication that there are instances where underaged children are being brought to Colombo from upcountry and other areas to serve as domestics and they are subject to various abuses by house owners,” he added. According to the Sri Lankan law, cruelty to children is a punishable offence under the Sri Lanka Penal Code under section 308P and in addition to that it is an offence under various statutes enacted by Parliament, SDIG Rohana said.

He said stern action would be taken against house owners who employ such underaged children and in addition, traffickers who bring these children from outstation to be employed as domestics will also be dealt with severely.