Sri Lanka
Population Size:
21,430,507 [1]
Number of people experiencing domestic abuse each year:
Sri Lanka police reported a daily average of 60 complaints of domestic violence in 2018.
The Demographic and Health Survey of 2016 found that nearly one in every five ‘ever-married’ women interviewed reported experiencing intimate partner violence in the previous year.
A WHO review in 2018 found that IPV ranged from 18-72% in different populations and geographic areas of Sri Lanka. [2]
No research on male victims or other gender identities.
Cost of domestic abuse to the economy each year:
No research available
Estimated % change due to COVID-19:
No specific evidence but the literature refers to a general increase due to the lockdown.
Current law and policy:
In 2005 Sri Lanka passed its Prevention of Domestic Violence Act and adopted a Plan of Action for its implementation. The law does not provide for additional criminal offences, but offers a civil remedy in the form of protection orders which may be sought by or on behalf of aggrieved persons. Implementation appears to have remained difficult to achieve in practice, and a later National Action Plan relating to Human Rights reiterated commitments to implement the 2005 Plan of Action.
In 2005 Sri Lanka passed its Prevention of Domestic Violence Act.[3] It was accompanied by a dedicated Plan of Action, setting out strategies and specific activities that aimed to facilitate awareness of the Act, develop and strengthen prevention and service provision and to ensure a coordinated response to domestic violence.[4] These aims were built upon in the 2011 - 2016 National Action Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights, which included strategies focussed on the reduction of violence against women. This included a reiterated commitment to implement the Plan of Action supporting the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act 2005 (PDOMESTIC VIOLENCEA).[5] Domestic Violence and other forms of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) remain particularly prevalent in northern parts of Sri Lanka affected by years of civil war.[6]
Sources
[1] Worldometer, “Sri Lanka Population (Live)”, (worldometers.info)
[3] H 22927 (E) Prevention Domestic.p65
[4] Plan of Action Supporting the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act
[5] The National Action Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights
[6] UNHCR: Learning From Experience to Adomesticviolenceance Gender Equality: Promising Practices in Asia (2017)