Special operation to trace children serving as domestic aides

COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka Police have launched a special operation to trace children under the age of 16-years who are employed as domestic aides in the Western province. "Police will conduct a special operation in the Colombo city and suburbs in order to trace underage children who are employed as domestic aides," Police Spokesperson Senior DIG Ajith Rohana told News 1st on Tuesday (Jul. 27). Whilst referring to the recent incidents reported in the country pertaining to children being recruited as domestic aides, Senior DIG Ajith Rohana said, underage children are being brought to Colombo from upcountry to serve as domestic aides, where they are subjected to various forms of cruelty and inhumane acts by the house owners. "According to the law, Cruelty to Children is an offence in terms of the provisions of the Sri Lanka Penal Code under section 308B and it is an offence under various statutes enacted by the Sri Lankan legislature," Senior DIG Ajith Rohana emphasized. As such, police will take stern action against the house owners and the traffickers who bring children to Colombo and suburbs from the upcountry or other areas to serve as domestic aides, as these underage children are subjected to various acts of torture whilst being employed as domestic aides, the Police Spokesperson stressed. The special police operation is conducted from today (Jul. 27).