Cabinet Spokesperson dismisses concerns over child protection bill as 'political stunt'

The Minister of Health and Mass Media and Cabinet Spokesperson, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, stated that the Opposition is attempting to create a false scare around the draft bill on preventing child abuse, as they need a daily topic to sustain their political activities.

Speaking to the media after commissioning the Arogya Wellness Centre built in the Polgollawatta area of Kandy, the Minister clarified that the draft bill was presented to Parliament based on recent incidents where children had committed or attempted to commit suicide after being publicly humiliated.

Minister Dr. Jayatissa stressed that the bill has not yet been passed by Parliament; it has only been debated.

“This draft bill has not been passed in Parliament. It was only debated. It hasn’t even passed the Second Reading,” he explained. He pointed out that after the Second Reading is passed, there is a Committee Stage, where any Member of Parliament can propose amendments, which must then be approved by Parliament.

“Only after the Committee Stage is complete does a draft bill pass in Parliament. Only then does it become an Act with the Speaker’s signature. Along with this, a certain number of amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure must also take place. Only after those are done will this ever be passed,” he said.

The Minister reassured the public that the bill will not hinder teachers, parents, or principals from acting to discipline children.

“This is not an obstruction to disciplining a child. Religious leaders, teachers, principals, and parents have a duty and a responsibility to guide children in a disciplined way. This poses absolutely no obstacle to that,” he asserted.

Dr. Jayatissa concluded by questioning the Opposition's motives: “I think the Opposition needs some kind of slogan to keep running day-to-day. They are trying to create some false scare. That is what they are doing... Do members of the Opposition, who have been in Parliament for years, not know what a draft bill is? What the Committee Stage is? How a bill is passed? They are not doing this out of ignorance. Are they foolish enough to claim that if a child hits a teacher somewhere, it was done because of this bill?”