A special islandwide operation was launched on Thursday (19th June) to take into protective custody underage children found begging and selling goods in unsafe conditions. The initiative was carried out by the Director of the Child and Women Abuse Prevention and Investigation Bureau, along with the Child and Women Bureau Headquarters and the National Child Protection Authority.
The operation targeted high-density public areas, shopping complexes, and signal-controlled intersections. Officers were deployed from the Child and Women Abuse Prevention Bureaus of 18 police divisions: Colombo North, Colombo South, Colombo Central, Nugegoda, Gampaha, Panadura, Kelaniya, Negombo, Mount Lavinia, Kalutara, Tangalle, Anuradhapura, Kandy, Kurunegala, Chilaw, Ratnapura, Galle, and Matara.
A total of 21 minors were taken into protective custody during the operation, and steps have been taken to place them under appropriate care and protection. (NewsWire)
