The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees, the answers are as follows:

¶ 02 1. Reported incidents - 2024: Children 15, Women 375, Total 390 - 2025 (January to August): Children 28, Women 118, Total 146

¶ 03 2. Yes. High risk, higher risk, risk, low risk and normal risk categories have been identified through classification.

¶ 04 3. Measures: - The 109 emergency hotline established within the Children and Women Bureau operates 24/7 to promptly act on complaints of violence against children and women, investigate and take necessary action. - The email cwb.online@police.gov.lk and WhatsApp number 0718595823 have been introduced for reporting incidents related to violence against children and women, and necessary action is taken promptly upon receipt of complaints.

¶ 05 4. Ongoing measures: - To locate missing children, minimize sexual exploitation, and prevent child victimization, information relating to online luring, child sexual abuse, child pornography, child sex tourism, child trafficking and the circulation of obscene and pornographic material directed at children is obtained via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), USA, through www.missing.org/cybertipline and the NCMEC call center 1-800-843-5678, and investigated promptly by the Child and Women Abuse Prevention Bureau. - Officers of the Child and Women Abuse Prevention Bureau, together with Public Security Committee officers attached to police stations, identify vulnerable children in localities and conduct awareness programs in areas where child-related crimes are frequently reported, placing children at risk in proper care. - As many offences occur online, the Media Division together with the Child and Women Abuse Prevention Bureau is using TikTok and other media to raise public awareness. - Conduct programs to raise awareness among adults since children’s use of phones and the internet without proper knowledge leads to misuse. - Coordinate with relevant officials at Divisional Secretariats—Counseling Officers, Women Development Officers, Child Rights Promotion Officers, and District Child Protection Officers—to organize awareness programs. - Conduct awareness programs covering all police divisions for children, women, elders and public officers. - With UNDP and the National Police Academy, conduct a series of training programs for officers of the Children and Women Bureau on sexual exploitation of women and children via the internet.

¶ 06 5. Measures to rescue women and children used in drug-related activities for transport and sale: - Conduct awareness lectures at police station level; Public Security Committee officers gather information and take necessary steps to release affected persons from such activities. - Intelligence officers gather information to take steps to rescue affected children and women. - Select areas around schools and places where schoolchildren gather; deploy surveillance duties to gather information and take further action. - Especially raise awareness among parents, schoolteachers and private tuition teachers and sensitize them to the situation.

¶ 07 Thank you, Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees.