Police have issued a warning to media outlets for violating ethical guidelines in reporting the recent sexual assault incident at Anuradhapura Hospital.
Issuing a statement, Sri Lanka Police said several violations had been observed, including breaches of the victim’s privacy.
They stressed that excerpts from the victim’s statement, included in the “B” report used for legal proceedings, had been quoted in media reports, causing distress and disrespect to the victim.
“It is not the first instance where certain media outlets have engaged in such practices, including publishing the suspect’s photographs. These actions obstruct legal proceedings,” the statement said.
Police further noted that under Act No. 10 of 2023, disclosing information about victims or witnesses in an ongoing investigation without proper authorisation is a punishable offences.
Additionally, Section 355 of the Penal Code (Amended Act No. 22 of 1995) strictly prohibits revealing the identity of victims in cases of sexual harassment, exploitation, or abuse—offences that include trafficking, unlawful sexual exploitation, physical assault on women, incest, criminal intimidation, and violence between individuals.
Sri Lanka Police urged all media organizations to verify information with official sources before publication to avoid legal repercussions. (Newswire)