President vows swift legislative action to ban corporal punishment

September 16, Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at banning corporal punishment across Sri Lanka.

This move comes after decades of advocacy by child protection groups, marking a significant step towards safeguarding children’s rights in the country.

In a recent social media statement, President Wickremesinghe revealed that the Cabinet of Ministers has given its nod to a proposal seeking amendments to the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code.

These amendments aim to prohibit corporal punishment in all forms, thereby offering a more robust legal framework to protect children from physical discipline.

“This milestone achievement comes after more than 20 years of efforts by child protection activists,” the President stated, highlighting the long-standing campaign to eliminate such practices.

The proposed legislation, once gazetted, will be brought before Parliament for final approval. This move is expected to generate widespread discussion, as it signals a fundamental shift in societal attitudes towards child discipline.

For years, child protection activists have argued that corporal punishment has no place in a modern, civilised society, advocating instead for alternative methods of discipline that do not involve physical force.

By addressing this issue through legislative reform, the government is taking a firm stance against practices that have been widely criticised for their potential long-term psychological and emotional impacts on children.