News
Shocking number of child abuse and rape cases overwhelm Lanka’s Magistrates’ Courts
Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe last week revealed a distressing truth that nearly one-third of the cases awaiting resolution in Magistrates’ courts throughout the country involve child abuse and rape. Expressing deep concern, the Minister urged Sri Lankans to feel a sense of shame and regret over this alarming situation that tarnishes the nation’s reputation.
Out of the 29,723 lawsuits currently pending before the Magistrates’ Courts, a staggering 5,550 cases relate to child abuse, while 4,312 cases involve rape. Shockingly, these horrific offenses collectively account for 33 percent of the total cases. Minister Rajapakshe emphasized the need for immediate action to combat these wrongdoings, which not only inflict harm on victims but also reflect poorly on the cultural values of the nation, as they are exposed to the scrutiny of other countries.
Minister Rajapakshe underscored the government’s efforts to protect children, stating that 25 laws aimed at ensuring their safety had been enacted by Parliament in the past ten months. However, he also acknowledged that cases of murder, attempted murder, and dangerous drugs constitute a significant portion of the pending cases, totaling 6,661, or roughly 22 percent of the total.
Disturbingly, the Minister revealed that child abuse, rape, murder, attempted murder, and dangerous drugs cases collectively make up 55 percent of the total cases before the Magistrates’ Courts, further highlighting the urgent need to address these grave issues.
Furthermore, the Minister drew attention to the staggering backlog in the judicial system, with a total of 1,127,265 cases pending across Sri Lanka. He expressed concern over the insufficient number of judges available to handle this overwhelming caseload, with a mere 399 judges assigned from the Supreme Court to the Magistrates’ Courts.
The Minister’s revelations have sparked outrage and concern among the public, signaling the pressing need for comprehensive and effective measures to combat child abuse, rape, and other serious crimes. It is imperative for the government, law enforcement agencies, and society as a whole to join forces to protect the vulnerable and ensure justice for the victims. Immediate action must be taken to strengthen laws, increase resources, and promote awareness to create a safer environment for all Sri Lankans, free from the specter of such heinous offenses.
The Sri Lanka Navy rescued a fisherman from a local fishing trawler that encountered distress due to adverse weather conditions off the eastern coast of Sri Lanka.
The rescue operation took place on 17 July 2026, approximately 15 nautical miles off Pothuvil. The operation was launched following information received by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo.
In response, the Sri Lanka Navy deployed the Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS Vijayabahu along with additional craft to conduct a search operation in the designated sea area, where they successfully located the distressed fisherman.
Following the rescue, the individual was brought aboard SLNS Vijayabahu, where naval personnel administered preliminary first aid. He was subsequently brought to the mainland and rushed for further medical attention.
Meanwhile, the Navy, along with the coordination of MRCC Colombo, remains constantly prepared to swiftly respond to the eventualities faced by maritime and fishing communities operating within the island’s Search and Rescue Region (SRR).
The countrywide dengue outbreak has intensified, with the death toll rising to 50, by July 16, as the number of reported infections surpassed 73,000, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).
The country has recorded 73,455 dengue cases so far this year, with the case fatality rate standing at 0.07 percent, highlighting the severity of the ongoing outbreak.
The Western Province continues to remain the worst affected region, accounting for more than half of the total cases, with 38,700 infections. The Gampaha District has recorded the highest number of cases in the province with 15,341, followed closely by Colombo with 14,625.
The Southern Province has reported 11,382 cases, while the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces have each recorded more than 6,000 infections.
Dengue cases have shown a sharp increase in recent months, with June recording the highest monthly total of 21,538 cases, while July has already reported 18,076 infections. In comparison, 8,590 cases were reported in May, and 5,651 in April.
Health authorities have identified 175 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas as high-risk locations during the 27th epidemiological week. An average of 2,677 new dengue cases are being reported daily, prompting authorities to intensify prevention and mosquito control measures.
The Colombo High Court yesterday (17) resumed hearing the money laundering case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The proceedings were held before High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, where evidence was recorded from prosecution witnesses, under the direction of Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara.
President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing for Yoshitha Rajapaksa, cross-examined the witnesses during the hearing.
After recording evidence, the court ordered that further examination of evidence be postponed until July 24.
The Attorney General has filed indictments, alleging that Yoshitha Rajapaksa committed an offence, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, by purchasing five plots of land in Dehiwala and Ratmalana, valued at more than Rs. 73 million.
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