Corporal Punishment in Sri Lanka: Still Happening, Still Legal, Still Harmful

Sunanda Deshapriya | 22 September 2025

Despite growing awareness of its harms, corporal punishment (CP) remains a routine disciplinary method among Sri Lankan parents and educators. A recent study in the Piliyandala Education Zone found that over half of surveyed parents had used CP in the past month, even though the majority acknowledged its damaging effects. This contradiction reveals a troubling gap between legal reform, cultural norms, and international obligations.

What the Data Says

The 2025 study, published in the Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, surveyed 370 parents of primary school children. Key findings include:

• 54.9% used CP recently; 50.7% did so weekly.
• 32.4% believed CP is necessary in parenting; 25.7% supported its use in schools.
• 85.4% were aware of CP’s harms—especially aggression and broken parent-child relationships.
• 61.8% learned CP from their own parents, showing deep intergenerational roots.
• 93% practiced at least one positive discipline strategy, such as active listening or rewards.

Despite high awareness, CP persists—often triggered by disobedience, stubbornness, or refusal to do schoolwork.

Legal Reform: Progress vs. Practice

In May 2024, Sri Lanka’s Cabinet approved amendments to the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code to prohibit corporal punishment in all settings. This aligns with Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which guarantees protection from “all forms of physical or mental violence.”

But contradictions remain:

• Section 82 of the Penal Code still permits acts “done in good faith” for children under 12.
• Illustration (i) to Section 341 allows teachers to flog students without legal consequence.
• The Children and Young Persons Ordinance (1939) criminalizes child abuse but permits CP by teachers.

These loopholes undermine enforcement and perpetuate harmful practices.

Sri Lanka’s Global Commitments

As a signatory to the UNCRC, Sri Lanka has:

• Accepted UPR recommendations (2017) to prohibit CP in all settings.
• Committed to the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children.
• Been urged by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to harmonize laws and educate the public.

Failure to act risks reputational damage and continued harm to children.

What Needs to Change

To protect children and fulfill its obligations, Sri Lanka must:

1. Repeal outdated legal provisions that legitimize CP.
2. Codify Circular No. 12/2016 into enforceable law banning CP in schools.
3. Launch public campaigns to shift cultural norms and promote non-violent discipline.
4. Train teachers and parents in positive discipline strategies.
5. Strengthen accountability mechanisms, including child helplines and school inspections.

A Call to Action

Corporal punishment is not discipline—it’s violence. The data is clear, the law is evolving, and the global standards demand change. Sri Lanka must move beyond symbolic reform and ensure that every child grows up free from fear, harm, and humiliation.

( This article is based on the report Beliefs, attitudes and practices on corporal punishment of children among parents with primary school children in selected schools of Piliyandala Education Zone, Western Province, Sri Lanka  by Pawani Hewamalage and Shanthini Ganesan)