The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) of Sri Lanka has called for the closure of all 470 children’s homes in the country due to ‘rampant’ abuse of the inhabitants.
Around 20,000 orphans and children from abusive family backgrounds are housed in homes around the country.
Anoma Dissanayake, head of the NCPA told BBC Sinhala: “Shocking incidents are happening in children's homes all over the country. Rarely, there are some very good children's homes but this is the situation in most of the homes. Our aim is to fully establish [a] foster care system replacing children's homes within the next few months,"
Her call comes after the NCPA raided several homes suspected of child abuse in previous weeks. The guardian of one home was arrested and charged with sexually abusing four girls in his custody.
The revelations come after the recent arrests of several Buddhist monks on suspicion of sexually abusing young boys in their care.
