• Cites increase in school dropouts and cases of not sending children to school
• Geetha seeks public support for police intervention

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) claimed that there is an increased risk of children being used as labourers in the face of the rising economic and social crisis situation in the country.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (13), an official of the authority claimed that there is a possibility of an increase in the number of school dropouts and instances of children not being sent to school. The authority added that there is a tendency to employ children unwillingly to earn money in the face of economic pressures without educating them at school.

Meanwhile, State Minister of Women and Child Affairs Geetha Kumarasinghe urged the media and the public to support the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and the Police to apprehend persons who employ children as labourers. When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday, she said that this is a criminal act. “People who use children as labourers must be apprehended. Parents must not use their own children as labourers. What about their school life? Therefore, the Police must get involved and implement the law on such people.” She further claimed that such children will suffer from mental stress due to these risk factors.