Starting July 1, the Sri Lankan government will enforce stricter laws to protect children from exploitation, including begging, street vending, domestic labor, and other hazardous employment.
The Cabinet has approved a proposal submitted by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs to strengthen legal action against the involvement of children in such activities. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, anyone under 18 years is defined as a child. Recent data shows that 30% of the country’s population are children.
Under the new regulations, employing children under 16 for begging or trade is completely banned. It will also be illegal to employ children aged 16–18 in domestic or hazardous labor. The move comes in response to reports highlighting ongoing exploitation of minors in these sectors.
