Beruwela children’s home under sex abuse probe – HR Chief
Justice Secretary proposes constant monitoring, new laws
July 25, 2012, 10:08 pm
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Justice Secretary Mrs. Kamalini de Silva and Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Chief Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa yesterday said there was an urgent need to monitor children’s homes properly.
Constant monitoring would be required to prevent children from being sexually abused by their guardians, they said.
The Justice Secretary and Human Rights Commissioner were responding to our news item on Wednesday that an 84-year-old ex-planter had sexually abused 14 little girls at an orphanage he had set up in Mawanella.
Chief Inspector Athula Amarasena, Officer-in-Charge of the Mawanella police yesterday said that they were in the process of recording more statements from the suspects. The victims had been subject to medical examination at the government hospital at Kegalle, he said, adding that the police were also in touch with Sabaragamuwa Province Probation and Childcare authorities.
Police officials told The Island that the actual number of victims could be very much higher than the number of complaints so far received.
The Human Rights Commissioner revealed that authorities were now in the process of investigating widespread child abuse at a children’s home at Beruwela. According to him, the man who ran the orphanage and a matron were under investigation.
Justice Secretary de Silva pointed out that the Justice Ministry had made available what she called a model law as regards children in judicial protection/process to Provincial Councils as it was a devolved subject. The proposed law would be subject to approval by Provincial Councils, she said.
Asked whether the government would implement recommendations with regard to Juvenile Justice Laws made by a committee headed by Justice Shiranee Thilakawardena [Chairperson] during the tenure of Milinda Moragoda as the Minister of Justice and Law Reforms, the Justice Secretary said that the ministry was in the process of implementing them.
The Justice Secretary was also a member of the Thilakawardena Committee, which included Justice N. K. Udalagama, Director Judges’ Institute, Justice L. K. Wimalachandra, Retired Judge of the Court of Appeal, Prof. Diyanath Samarasinghe, Psychiatrist, Mrs Kamalini de Silva, Additional Secretary (Legal), Ministry of Justice and Law Reforms, Jagath Wellawatte, Chairman, National Child Protection Authority, Dr. Hiranthi Wijemanne, Consultant, Bureau of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation, M. G. W. M. Muthubanda, Director –Bureau for the Protection of Abuse of Children and Women, Sarath Abeygunawardena, Commissioner of Probation and Child Care, Dr. Hemal Jayawardena, Child Protection Specialist- UNICEF, Sajeewa Samaranayake, Consultant – UNICEF, Ms. Shaneli Athukorala , Programme Specialist, Save the Children Sri Lanka, Harshana Nanayakkara, Consultant, Save the Children Sri Lanka, Ms. Hemantha Wanniarachchi, Senior Asst. Secretary, Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Empowerment.
The Human Rights Commissioner emphasised that the government needed to act swiftly and decisively without being distracted by other issues. It would be a mistake to believe that one institution could tackle the issue, he said. "What we urgently need is a cohesive effort by all institutions responsible for safety and security of the children. There are obviously serious lapses as well as shortcomings on the part various institutions involved in the effort."
When it was pointed out that the public had lost faith in both the police and the judiciary especially due to bail given to several suspects in child abuse cases Police Spokesman SP Ajith Rohana acknowledged that there were some black sheep among the over 80,000 officers and men in the Police Department. Commenting on the arrest of a Sergeant for gang raping the girl, SP Rohana said that stern action would be against such elements. The Island pointed out that the policeman had been bailed out along with other suspects, whereas over 20 persons taken in connection with the gang rape of another teenager in Tangalle remained in custody, the police spokesman said that giving bail was the prerogative of the judicial officers.
