Sri Lanka has withdrawn the proposed Penal Code Amendment Bill, which contained controversial provisions regarding the ‘Age of Consent’ and penalties for sexual offenders under the age of 22 years. 

Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe confirmed to NewsWire, that the proposed Penal Code Amendment Bill in its entirety has been withdrawn.

Concerns were initially raised after the proposed Bill was found to have proposed the amendment of the ‘Age of Consent’ from 16 to 14 years.

The Bill also contained provisions for the reduction of penalties concerning cases of sexual abuse involving individuals aged 14 to 16 and offenders under the age of 22.

In March, concerns were raised by various parties, including female politicians, female-led civil society groups, and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa regarding the provisions of the proposed bill. (NewsWire)

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