A draft bill to amend the Penal Code regarding the physical punishment of children has been submitted to Parliament by the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.

According to the Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa, once parliamentary proceedings related to this proposed amendment are concluded, the Ministry will take steps to issue relevant guidelines or directives to schools, if such instructions are deemed necessary.

The move comes after the Cabinet recently approved proposals for amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Penal Code to ban physical and psychological injuries caused by physical punishments in any sector.

Meanwhile, a recent report from the World Health Organization said corporal punishment causes significant harm to children’s health and development, revealing that globally, an estimated 1.2 billion children aged 0–18 years are subjected to physical punishment in their homes every year and that the practice in schools is equally widespread. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved proposals for amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Penal Code to ban physical and psychological injuries caused by physical punishments in any sector.

According to the government, approval of the Cabinet was granted at their meeting held in April 2024 to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979 to impose provisions to ban physical punishments in any sector causing physical injuries. 

As such, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal presented by the Minister of Justice to grant its policy approval of the current Cabinet to formulate the relevant draft bill with amendments for the purpose.

The government further stated that it has been scientifically proven that the physical and psychological injury caused to a child due to physical punishment is immense. 

Therefore, approval was granted at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held in April 2024 to amend the penal code (19th Authority) so that provisions can be imposed to define penalties related to physical injury, as well as to ban injuries from physical punishments in any sector. 

Even though approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted to publish the draft bill of the  Penal Code (Amended) prepared by the Legal Draftsmen in the government gazette notification and submit the same to the Parliament, such action has not been carried out. 

Recognizing the requirement to legalize the said draft bill with immediate effect, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal by the Minister of Justice to publish the draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereafter submit the same to the Parliament for approval. (Newswire)

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