Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of the Children and Women Bureau, Renuka Jayasundara says that rape remains the most frequently reported crime in Sri Lanka, with alarming statistics on sexual harassment and domestic violence surfacing in 2023.
Speaking to the media in Colombo, DIG Jayasundara said that 2,252 cases of sexual harassment against women had been reported in 2024, with the highest number of incidents occurring at home (1,420 cases). Other locations included public transport (261 cases), online platforms (192 cases), roads (117 cases), workplaces (41 cases), schools and private tuition classes (20 cases), religious places (9 cases), and various other locations (192 cases).
She said those figures underrepresented the true extent of the issue due to widespread underreporting.
Beyond sexual harassment, domestic violence remained a significant concern, with approximately 130,000 complaints filed annually, DIG Jayasundara said, assuring the public that law enforcement authorities are committed to conducting thorough investigations and providing necessary support to victims of sexual harassment and domestic violence.
