The National Child Protection Authority has documented a rise in complaints involving child neglect, abandonment, and abuse, receiving between 600 and 1,000 reports each month.

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has reported an uptick in complaints related to child maltreatment across multiple categories. According to Sajeewani Abeykoon, the Attorney-at-Law and Director of Law Enforcement at the NCPA, the authority is handling between 600 and 1,000 complaints monthly, with cases spanning child neglect, abandonment, physical abuse, and psychological harm.

The reported increase in complaint volumes reflects growing awareness among the public about child protection mechanisms, though the data does not clarify whether this represents a genuine rise in incidents or improved reporting. Abeykoon highlighted that the legal framework provides substantial penalties for perpetrators, noting that under Sri Lankan Penal Code provisions, parents or guardians convicted of child abuse or neglect face potential imprisonment ranging from a minimum of two years to a maximum of ten years.

The NCPA's disclosure of these figures underscores ongoing concerns about child welfare in the country and the authority's role in investigating and referring cases for prosecution. The organization continues to serve as a key channel through which allegations of child maltreatment are documented and acted upon.