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A media conference was held on 5 March 2021 at the Sri Lanka Press Institute titled End the Doomed Legacy! by Stop Child Cruelty Trust. The event discussed the epidemic of widespread violence against children and the unchecked instances that lead to fatal consequences for children on the island. The opening address was delivered by SCC Trust Chairperson Dr. Tush Wickramanayaka, who highlighted the trust's work over the past three years since its inception.
Dr. Wickramanayaka, a family physician licensed in Sri Lanka and the UK, said that although the trust had made steady progress since 2018, the situation had deteriorated beyond its control, and progress on awareness and administrative or legislative reform must be sped up simultaneously.
Attorney-at-law Achala Seneviratne spoke about the need to reform existing laws and highlighted the recent landmark Supreme Court decision against corporal punishment. She also referred to Prapuraka Abhiyachanaya, the historic participation of school students in rejecting all forms of physical and mental punishment and endorsing happier and safer education. She said the Court had done its role in interpreting the law, and that society now had to carry the precedent forward.
Social activist and National Transgender Network Sri Lanka Executive Director Bhoomi Harendran shared an emotional statement about dedicating her efforts to protect children on the island, urging society not to ignore abuse simply because it does not affect them personally. Former Mrs. Sri Lanka Chandi Aluwihare spoke about the lack of sex education in the country and how children are being failed by the absence of knowledge and awareness. Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya of the University of Colombo added that violence against children is often tied to poverty and a lack of education, and that teachers face challenges when home environments reinforce violence.
Dr. Wickramanayaka said that the saying I was whacked and I am doing well is a serious misconception that allows brutality to continue into the 21st century. She stressed that corporal punishment is the most common form of child abuse in Sri Lanka and globally, and that the focus on more visible forms of abuse has allowed physical punishment to remain normalized. She noted that Sri Lanka Police have confirmed that a child is sexually molested every two hours in the country, yet the nation still sits among the least safe countries in the world for children because violence against children is not being prevented.
The speakers agreed that the greatest challenge is the attitudinal change needed across society. Because children do not have a value-added vote, authorities are able to overlook their welfare unless child protection is treated as a collective responsibility.