News
Eighteen percent increase in rape of underage girls between 2019 and 2020
57 per cent increase in narcotic related crimes during the same period
There was a 4% increase in rape of females above 16 years, in 2020, compared to 2019, the Performance Report of the Sri Lanka Police for the year 2020 reveals. About 289 such crimes were reported in 2029, and in 2020 the number of reported incidents increased to 300. Police say they brought to justice the perpetrators in 94% of the cases.
About 1292 cases of statutory rape of women under 16 were reported in 2020. This is an increase of 9% compared to the situation in 2019, when 1,185 such crimes were reported. The percentage of solving these crimes was 97% in 2020.
Some 305 incidents of rape of girls below 16 years have been reported in 2019 and in 2020; the number has increased to 361, a hike of 18%. The percentage of solving these crimes in 2020 is 92%. The total number of crimes under the above three categories in 2020 has increased compared to those in 2019.
The report had divided incidents of rape into three categories. The rape of females over 16, the statutory rape of females under 16 with the consent of the victim, and the rape females under 16 years without their consent.
Offences related to ‘abduction’ have declined in 2020 compared to those in 2018 and 2019, the Performance Report says.
Compared to 2019, incidents of abductions dropped from 663 to 633, by 4%. The percentage of solving them too went up from 85% in 2019 to 89% in 2020, the report said.
In 2020, 166 crimes related to kidnapping were reported and this is a 21% decline compared with the 212 kidnappings reported in 2019. The percentage of solving such crimes in 2020 was 90%.
In 2020, the number burglaries went down by 20%. Some 6,499 cases were reported compared to the 8,143 incidents reported in 2019. The percentage of solving such crimes in 2020 was 58%, an increase from 55% in 2019, the report said.
There was also a 3% drop in homicides in 2020 as well, compared to 2019. About 479 homicides were reported in 2019 and in 2020, the number dropped by 3%, to 464. The report says 94% of such cases were solved.
Robberies too declined in 2020, it says. Some 2,944 robberies were reported in 2019 and in 2020, and the number dropped by 27% to 2148. The percentage of robberies solved in 2020 was 67%.
There were 677 incidents grave sexual abuse in 2020. There were 710 such cases reported in 2019.
The report adds that a considerable number of crimes categorised under criminal breach of trust and criminal misuse of amounts exceeding Rs. 300,000, have been reported. However, compared to 2019, there has been a substantial decline of 45%. There were 5,251 incidents reported in 2019. Police solved 52% of such cases in 2020.
The performance report reveals that 4,905 cases of theft of property worth more than Rs. 25000 were committed in 2019. This dropped by 17% to 4,073 in 2020. Police solved 68% of such cases in 2020.
However, there has been a considerable increase in crimes related to narcotics in 2020 in comparison to 2019. The Report says that 4,340 such crimes were reported in 2019, and the number increased dramatically to 6,811 in 2020, a jump of 57%. The police solved 99% of these cases in 2019 and 2020.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
