The Auditor General’s report on the Sri Lanka Police for the year ending 31 December 2024 has revealed a notable rise in major crimes committed against women and children over the past three years.
According to the audit, police have identified 14 categories of major crimes against women. Between 2022 and 2024, significant increases were recorded in murders, rapes, cases of serious injury, and serious sexual abuse. Reported cases during this period totalled 459, 589, and 567 respectively.
In response, the Accounting Officer stated that the Sri Lanka Police Children and Women’s Bureau is conducting islandwide awareness programmes aimed at reducing violence and crimes targeting women. The audit, however, recommends that sufficient measures be taken to further reduce the incidence of such offences.
The audit also highlights a rise in major crimes against children. Police identified 15 categories of serious offences, including murder, rape (with or without consent involving individuals under 16), serious sexual abuse, and abduction. These crimes have shown proportional increases, with reported cases reaching 2,821, 2,764, and 2,907 during the 2022–2024 period.
The Accounting Officer noted that the Children and Women’s Bureau is carrying out awareness campaigns across all sectors of society to curb crimes against children. The report again stresses the need for stronger action to reduce the reporting of major crimes involving minors.
