A recent report from the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) indicates that 4,289 child abuse cases filed by the Attorney General are currently pending before High Courts across Sri Lanka. The cases span a broad range of serious offences, including rape, grave sexual abuse, exploitation, obscene publications involving minors, and acts of cruelty.
According to the report, 1,683 cases were scheduled to be taken up in January 2026 alone as courts continued efforts to manage the growing caseload.
NCPA Chairperson Preethi Inoka Ranasinghe stated that the largest number of pending cases are recorded in the High Courts of Galle, Kurunegala, and Kandy, with case totals of 442, 423, and 414 respectively. Several other districts, including Kalutara, Gampaha, Badulla, Kegalle, and Matara, also report high volumes of cases under judicial review.
Ranasinghe further noted that both boys and girls are at risk, and that in a majority of cases the alleged perpetrator is a person known to the child.
The NCPA report forms part of an ongoing review of child‑protection issues and legal proceedings, tracking the number of indictments filed nationwide and monitoring the progress of cases listed for High Court hearings. According to the Authority, legal action continues in courts across the island as efforts to address child‑related offences proceed.