Sri Lanka’s cabinet approved changes to the Penal Code, instituting raping of male children as a criminal offense.
Until now, male rape wasn’t a criminal offense, leaving victims without avenues for justice.
The draft bill, cleared by the Attorney General, will be published and submitted to Parliament for approval.
Amendments to the Penal Code : Cabinet Decision
Approval has been granted at the meetings of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 18.01.2021 and 28.06.2021 to introduce amendments to the Penal Code to amend laws on constitutional rape of females mentioned in the Penal Code, to correct the shortcomings in the law of raping of females and to institute raping of male children as a criminal offense. Accordingly, clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the draft bill formulated by the Legal Draftsman.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal forwarded by the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms to publish the aforesaid draft bill in the Government gazette notification and submit the same to the Parliament to obtain its concurrence.