The Hon. (Mrs.) Deepthi Wasalage

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees, Hon. Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, women and children are a certain measure of social development.

¶ 02 In our country, according to a recent report, incidents of sexual exploitation of children and women via the internet have increased. For a country to develop, social security, economic protection, and social love must reach children and women.

¶ 03 We understand that the exploitation of women and children via the internet has increased due to the spread of narcotics. As a country, we were in a very difficult situation. If drugs worth billions, in kilos, have spread across society, our women and children would truly be lost.

¶ 04 Members of the Opposition make various statements regarding drug detections. I must respond. A certain party’s General Secretary says that after our Government came, drugs spread by the container load. But I say this: only when underworld figures and drug traffickers have political protection do they survive. Since the day the National People’s Power Government assumed office, the underworld and drug traffickers have had no political protection. That is why today we are able to seize such a large volume of drugs. Underworld gangs are being brought under control because our Government came to power.

¶ 05 As a country, we must learn how to protect our women and children from sexual exploitation via the internet. Our women and children are exploited on the streets, in transport, at workplaces and in all places. As a society, we must reduce this. Therefore, I ask the following questions from the Hon. Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs:

¶ 06 1. How many incidents of sexual exploitation of women and children via the internet were reported during the last year and up to August 2025?

¶ 07 2. Have high-risk groups been identified for such incidents?

¶ 08 3. What immediate response measures are in place when such incidents are reported regarding women and children?

¶ 09 4. What measures are expected to control this situation?

¶ 10 5. Additionally, given that in drug-related activities children and women are used for transport and sale, thereby exposing them to severe risk, what steps are planned to rescue them from such situations?