In a major operation against begging by minors, officers of the Sri Lanka Police Children and Women’s Bureau Headquarters rescued 18 children in 14 raids during the past three months, the Police Media Unit said.
According to police media spokesman DIG Priyantha Jayakody, the special operation was conducted due to the increasing number of children seen begging in Colombo and its suburbs.
Eleven boys and seven girls were found begging on the streets by investigating officers, the Police said.
The children were produced before court where four children were ordered to be sent to child probation homes while the remaining 14, were handed over to their parents on a court bond.
“Due to the increase in begging by minors, special police operations in this regard will continue,” DIG Jayakody said, adding that raids will be conducted by the Police Children and Women’s Bureau Headquarters along with 42 other divisional offices of the bureau.