The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has warned that both short-term and long-term physical and psychological punishment can have serious negative effects on a child’s personality development.
The statement was issued in a message marking the International Day to End Corporal Punishment on April 30.
NCPA Chairperson Preethi Inoka Ranasinghe said research has clearly shown the harmful impact of corporal punishment, which has long been used by parents, elders, and teachers as a disciplinary method at home and in schools.
She noted that under Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), children are entitled to protection from all forms of abuse and neglect, an obligation Sri Lanka has upheld since 1990.
The NCPA further pointed out that the Constitution and legal provisions, including Section 308(A) of the Penal Code and Education Ministry circulars, prohibit physical or psychological punishment in disciplining children.
The authority emphasized that corporal punishment constitutes physical abuse and should not be used under any circumstances.
It also revealed that complaints related to physical violence remain the second most reported category received by the NCPA, with around 2,000 to 2,500 incidents recorded annually.
