Sri Lanka’s National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) received a total of 107,663 complaints of child abuse between 2014 and April 30, 2025, but 43% of these allegations were not investigated, according to a 2024 annual audit report by the Auditor General. The report highlights that 46,813 complaints remain without completed investigations, indicating a major lapse in the country’s child protection system.
The audit states that the failure to investigate a significant portion of child abuse complaints has prevented the NCPA from meeting its core responsibilities. These include protecting and providing care to victims, enforcing laws related to all forms of child abuse, and ensuring timely legal action against perpetrators. The report suggests that the delayed or absent investigations have compromised the authority’s ability to address abuse effectively and to ensure justice for victims.
In addition to the lack of investigations, the audit found that the NCPA has been unable to review the progress of ongoing cases, manage complaints of misconduct, and refer cases to legal authorities in a timely manner. These operational gaps, the report warns, could allow abuse to continue unchecked and undermine public confidence in child protection mechanisms. For a global audience, the findings underscore broader concerns about the capacity of child protection institutions in developing countries to respond to high volumes of abuse allegations.
The audit report raises pressing questions about accountability, resources, and institutional capacity in Sri Lanka’s child protection system. As international attention increasingly focuses on child welfare and safeguarding, the report underscores the need for urgent reforms and stronger oversight to ensure that children’s rights are protected and that abuse complaints are treated with the urgency they demand.
