{"id":152777,"date":"2025-10-29T18:06:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T01:06:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=152777"},"modified":"2025-10-29T18:06:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T01:06:21","slug":"identifying-sri-lankas-societal-ills-who-are-promoting-who-are-victims-the-dangerous-outcomes-if-not-addressed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2025\/10\/29\/identifying-sri-lankas-societal-ills-who-are-promoting-who-are-victims-the-dangerous-outcomes-if-not-addressed\/","title":{"rendered":"Identifying Sri Lanka\u2019s Societal ills \u2013 Who are promoting \u2013 who are victims &amp; the dangerous outcomes if not addressed"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Shenali D Waduge<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Below is a compilation of statistics publicly available covering all the current ills of society which are being presented as normal\u201d and promoted to make profit for those selling or tasked to promote immorality. The statistics cover substance abuse, HIV\/AIDS, prostitution\/sex industry, pornography\/online harms, smoking, alcohol, crime\/domestic abuse, social\u2011media influences. The outcomes are also shown as well as the role of Family, School, Religious, Government, Institution (NGO \/ Health \/ Law Enforcement \/ Private sector)&nbsp;and measures for&nbsp;media accountability &amp; funder transparency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Multiple data sources show rising harms across drugs, HIV cases linked to LGBTQIA promotion, online sexual exploitation, alcohol\u2011related deaths, youth smoking\/addiction and crimes against women &amp; children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The pattern:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>digital exposure + substance access + weakened family cohesion + poor enforcement&nbsp;\u2192 accelerated youth vulnerability, public\u2011health burden, social fragmentation and long\u2011term economic cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If no action is taken: within 5\u201310 years Sri Lanka faces a generational health, social\u2011cohesion and productivity crisis. Immediate multi\u2011sector action is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The situation is worse than terrorism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Domestic Abuse &amp; Family Violence<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>According to the<strong>Sri Lanka Police Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Women and Children (2024)<\/strong>, there were\u00a0<strong>over 85,000 complaints of domestic violence and child abuse<\/strong>\u00a0recorded between 2021\u20132024, marking a\u00a0<strong>22% increase<\/strong>\u00a0compared to the pre-COVID period (2017\u20132019).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The<strong>Department of Police (Crime Statistics 2024)<\/strong>\u00a0reported that\u00a0<strong>around 30 women are assaulted by partners or family members daily<\/strong>, on average.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The<strong>Ministry of Women, Child Affairs &amp; Social Empowerment (2023)<\/strong>\u00a0noted that\u00a0<strong>1 in 3 women in Sri Lanka\u00a0<\/strong>has experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner during her lifetime.\u00a0<em>(UNFPA Sri Lanka, Violence Against Women National Study\u201d, 2023)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Child Protection Authority data (2023)<\/strong>recorded\u00a0<strong>11,258 child cruelty and neglect cases<\/strong>, of which\u00a0<strong>4,129\u00a0<\/strong>involved physical abuse within homes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Trend:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reports rising annually by 5\u20137%, linked to<strong>economic hardship, alcohol abuse, unemployment<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>increased stress<\/strong>\u00a0following the pandemic and financial crisis (2022\u20132024).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If No Action Is Taken:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>D<strong>isintegration of family cohesion<\/strong>, normalization of violence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Psychological trauma<\/strong>among children manifesting as aggression, truancy, or substance abuse.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cycle of violence<\/strong>repeated across generations, with increased social instability and public-health costs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Solutions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Family Level:<\/strong>Early-stage counseling, awareness on healthy conflict resolution, community vigilance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>School Level:<\/strong>Incorporate empathy, communication, and non-violence modules in civics\/health curricula.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Religious Level:<\/strong>Regular sermons on compassion, family duties, and forgiveness; temple\/church\/mosque family counseling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Government Level:<\/strong>Full enforcement of the\u00a0<em>Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (No. 34 of 2005)<\/em>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Institutional Level:<\/strong>Workplace anti-harassment training, victim-support leave policies, referral links to counseling services.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sri Lanka Police,<em>Crime Statistics Report<\/em>, 2024.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>National Child Protection Authority,<em>Annual Report<\/em>, 2023.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ministry of Women, Child Affairs &amp; Social Empowerment, 2023.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Substance Abuse (Alcohol, Drugs, Smoking)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The<strong>National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB)<\/strong>\u00a0reported a\u00a0<strong>record 111,807 drug-related arrests in 2023<\/strong>, a\u00a0<strong>35% increase<\/strong>\u00a0compared to 2021.\u00a0<em>(NDDCB Annual Report 2023)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Heroin<\/strong>and\u00a0<strong>methamphetamine (Ice)<\/strong>\u00a0accounted for nearly\u00a0<strong>72% of all drug seizures<\/strong>, showing a strong shift toward synthetic substances.\u00a0<em>(Sri Lanka Police \u2013 Drug Raids Statistics 2023)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The<strong>World Health Organization (WHO \u2013 Country Profile 2023)<\/strong>\u00a0noted that\u00a0<strong>8% of Sri Lankan males<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>1.5% of females<\/strong>\u00a0are regular alcohol users, with\u00a0<strong>youth consumption rising steadily<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tobacco and smoking:<\/strong>According to the\u00a0<strong>National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA)<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>1% of adults\u00a0<\/strong>smoke regularly, while\u00a0<strong>12% of schoolboys aged 15\u201319<\/strong>\u00a0have tried cigarettes at least once.\u00a0<em>(Global Youth Tobacco Survey \u2013 Sri Lanka 2022)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The<strong>Ministry of Education (2024)<\/strong>\u00a0acknowledged a\u00a0<strong>notable rise in student suspensions<\/strong>\u00a0due to possession or use of intoxicants near schools in\u00a0<strong>Colombo, Gampaha, and Kurunegala districts<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Underage drinking<\/strong>is increasing \u2014 a\u00a0<strong>2023 UNICEF youth health survey<\/strong>\u00a0found\u00a0<strong>11% of teens aged 13\u201317<\/strong>consume alcohol monthly, mostly at peer gatherings or family functions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Over 230,000 school children in Colombo District addicted to drugs \u2013 prisons official\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Trend:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Substance abuse now<strong>crosses social classes<\/strong>, driven by\u00a0<strong>music videos, social media, and online drug marketing<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increasing number of<strong>female and student arrests<\/strong>\u00a0for possession of Ice\u201d \u2014 a previously adult male-dominated trend.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>School-based detection<\/strong>of drugs doubled between 2021 and 2024.\u00a0<em>(Ministry of Education Drug Monitoring Division, 2024)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If No Action Is Taken:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Surge in<strong>drug-related crimes<\/strong>, theft, and gang recruitment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Higher suicide and self-harm rates<\/strong>linked to substance-induced depression.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Public health burden<\/strong>increases from liver, heart, and respiratory diseases.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Collapse of workplace productivity and family stability due to addiction.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Solutions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Family:<\/strong>Open dialogue on addiction, monitor social circles, model sobriety.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Schools:<\/strong>Anti-drug clubs, peer mentoring, collaboration with NDDCB education units.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Religious Institutions:<\/strong>Faith-based rehabilitation and youth recovery initiatives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Government:<\/strong>Stricter regulation of alcohol\/tobacco marketing; expansion of public rehabilitation centers and rural outreach especially media &amp; social media\/activists.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Institutions:<\/strong>Enforce zero-tolerance drug policies; provide counseling and employee-assistance programs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB),<em>Annual Report 2023<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sri Lanka Police,<em>Drug Raids and Arrest Statistics 2023<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>World Health Organization,<em>Country Alcohol and Drug Use Profile \u2013 Sri Lanka 2023<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA),<em>National Survey 2022<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>UNICEF,<em>Youth Health Behaviour Survey \u2013 Sri Lanka 2023<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ministry of Education,<em>School Safety and Substance Monitoring Report 2024<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pornography, Prostitution &amp; Sexual Exploitation<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In 2023 alone, more than<strong>100,000 pieces of child-pornography material<\/strong>\u00a0were produced and released on the internet in Sri Lanka, according to the Acting IGP.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) received<strong>8,746 complaints in 2024<\/strong>, including\u00a0<strong>580 sexual abuse cases of children<\/strong>, among which\u00a0<strong>25 cases involved sexual exploitation for commercial purposes<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Data from the first half of 2024 show<strong>1,016 cases of cruelty<\/strong>\u00a0to children (a 41% increase over same period 2023). Sexual harassment cases among children rose to\u00a0<strong>403<\/strong>, including\u00a0<strong>37 cases of grave digital sexual abuse<\/strong>\u00a0(distribution of nude photos etc).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Online sex-industry reports: The media reports dozens of websites\/mobile apps openly advertising hundreds of paid sex services daily, including with women aged 18-27 and some underage girls\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A survey referenced in the 2023 UPR report found that over<strong>28% of children<\/strong>\u00a0have experienced online violence\u201d (receiving indecent messages\/links) in Sri Lanka.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Trend:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The illicit trade has shifted from traditional venues (spas, brothels) to encrypted online platforms, live-streaming and mobile apps, making regulation harder.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The rise in child-sexual-exploitation materials correlates with the increase in smartphone\/internet access and unsupervised online time among children.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If No Action Is Taken:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Child exploitation, trafficking, sexual crime will increase, particularly via digital channels.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mental-health damage, desensitisation to sex, premature sexualisation of youth, distorted intimate relationships \u2013 social incurable diseases<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Erosion of family trust and moral norms, increasing public-health and legal-system burden.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Breakdown of society at all levels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Solutions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Family Level:<\/strong>Supervised internet\/device use; moral discussion about sexuality; clear media boundaries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>School Level:<\/strong>Online safety education; values-based sexual-education integrated with consent, respect, digital hygiene, no CSE-LGBTQIA promotion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Religious Bodies:<\/strong>Reinforce the sanctity of marriage, chastity, respect for human dignity; community awareness.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Government Level:<\/strong>Enact &amp; enforce robust cyber-laws (including age filters, damaging content takedowns); strengthen child-protection agencies; require platforms to report child-sexual-abuse materials.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Institutional Level:<\/strong>Media watchdog partnerships; corporate policies blocking exploitative content; promote safe-internet certification for schools and youth-services.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Over 100,000 child-porn releases in 2023 \u2014 Acting IGP.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>NCPA complaints 2024 \u2013 8,746 total, 580 sexual abuse, 25 commercial exploitation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Child cruelty &amp; cyber-harassment first half 2024: 1,016 cruelty; 403 sexual harassment; 37 grave digital abuse.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Online sex-trade intensifying via websites\/apps advertising pay-services.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>28% of children experienced online violence (indecent messages\/links) per UPR report.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Social Media Influence<\/strong><strong>\u202f<\/strong><strong>&amp;<\/strong><strong>\u202f<\/strong><strong>Ideological Indoctrination<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>According to the DataReportal\u202f\u2013 Digital\u202f2025: Sri\u202fLanka\u201d report, there were approximately<strong>20<\/strong><strong>\u202f<\/strong><strong>million social media user identities<\/strong>\u00a0in Sri\u202fLanka in January\u202f2025, equivalent to ~35.4% of the total population.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The same DataReportal report shows that there were ~12.4\u202fmillion internet users in Sri\u202fLanka at the start of 2025, giving an online penetration of about 53.6%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Research for youth (ages\u202f15\u201129) indicates that<strong>7%<\/strong>\u00a0of that age group can be considered active internet users\u201d (daily usage) in Sri\u202fLanka.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A survey of youth in the 15\u201129 age group found that<strong>6%<\/strong>\u00a0of them reported using the internet in order to access social media platforms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Census &amp; Statistics Department (CSD) report states that digital literacy among youth aged\u202f20\u201124 in 2024 was<strong>7%<\/strong>, among ages\u202f15\u201119 it was 91.6% and ages\u202f25\u201129 90.5%.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Trend:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The digital and social\u2011media footprint among youth is large and growing, making the environment vulnerable to external ideological influence targeting identity, culture, gender and consumerism. Youth vulnerable to be fooled into variety of scams &amp; immoral activities presented as modern\u201d\/\u201dfashionable\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>With youth daily access high and digital literacy strong, the channels for exposure to foreign ideas and value systems are increasingly open.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The combination of unsupervised access, fast\u2011moving platforms and globalised content means ideological messages (including around gender identity, lifestyle, consumer culture) can bypass traditional cultural filters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If No Action Is Taken:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Youth risk losing national identity and cultural grounding, as foreign ideologies may gain greater influence via social platforms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There may be a rise in mental\u2011health issues among youth: comparison anxiety, insecurity, rebellion, self\u2011harm \u2013 tied to high online engagement and exposure to conflicting value systems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Imported ideological confusion (e.g., gender identity debates, normalisation of non\u2011traditional lifestyles) may gain traction without being contextualised within local culture and values.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The accumulation of these risks erodes family, community and national solidarity, and increases vulnerability to external ideological influence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Solutions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Family Level:Promote media literacy at home; set clear device and screen\u2011time limits; encourage discussions about identity, culture, purpose and values in the digital age. Make them understand the dangerous outcome. Show examples of how young lives have got ruined.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>School Level:\u00a0Introduce a critical thinking curriculum; teach digital hygiene, online\u2011safety and value\u2011based identity education; equip students to recognise ideological influence and peer\u2011pressure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Religious Bodies \/ Community Level:\u00a0Teach clarity of purpose and identity grounded in moral codes and local cultural\/religious heritage; convene youth forums on identity and digital citizenship.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Government Level:\u00a0Develop and implement digital\u2011ethics regulations; oversee online content oversight (especially foreign\u2011funded\/ideologically\u2011driven content); support local digital platforms that promote national culture and values even experts\u201d who are now appearing on both state &amp; private media to promote the same advocacy terms that fooled youth in the West.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Institutional Level:Promote national digital platforms and safe online ecosystems; encourage universities, NGOs and youth\u2011programmes to collaborate on digital literacy and identity\u2011resilience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Media Regulation:\u00a0Monitor and regulate external funding and influence streaming into social\u2011media platforms that promote ideological messages inconsistent with national culture; require transparency of foreign funding of digital campaigns; promote public\u2011service content that reinforces national identity, culture and values.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Digital\u202f2025: Sri\u202fLanka\u201d \u2013 DataReportal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>New Media Culture enables Digital Identities of Youth in Sri\u202fLanka\u201d \u2013 research from LDJF.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Youth internet\/socia\u00adl\u2011media usage (ages\u202f15\u201129) report.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>CSD digital\u2011literacy statistics report (2024).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Decline in Marriage, Divorce &amp; Falling Birth Rates<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Current Data (Sri Lanka):<br>\u2022 In\u202f2022, there were 171,140 marriages registered.<br>\u2022 In\u202f2023, the number of marriages fell to 151,356.<br>\u2022 In\u202f2024, marriages further dropped to 139,290.<br>\u2022 Births in 2023 were around 247,900.<br>\u2022 Live births in 2024 were recorded at 220,761.<br>The birth\u2011rate has been falling sharply: from about 328,400 in 2018 to 220,761 in 2024 (approx. one\u2011third decline).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trend:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Young adults are increasingly opting out of marriage or delaying it, influenced by economic strain (cost of weddings, housing, child\u2011rearing which are being promoted to discourage marriage &amp; family) and also by shifting cultural\/ideological norms (greater individualism, Western\u2011style independence).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The falling birth\u2011rate reflects not only fewer marriages but also smaller family size preferences, delayed child\u2011bearing, and possibly increased uncertainties (economic, social, migration) reducing fertility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Together the decline in marriages + births point to demographic transition pressures: fewer new family units forming, fewer children being born, and a growing share of older dependents. This is prevalent among Sinhalese &amp; Tamil families only.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If No Action Is Taken:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Population decline risk, shrinking workforce, potential labour shortages and higher elder\u2010dependency burden as fewer young people replace older generations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Erosion of traditional family values and structures, increased loneliness, weaker interpersonal support networks, and potential rise in social isolation among unmarried or childless adults.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Weakening of national identity and demographic stability: with fewer new families and children, social cohesion may be impacted, and the country may face a demographic drag on growth and resilience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Solutions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Family Level:Encourage conversations about the value of early marriage (within reason) and family responsibility; provide support for couples to marry and form families (financial planning, counselling).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>School Level:Integrate life\u2011skills education covering family, parenting, responsibility, the benefits of stable partnerships and raising children; make students aware of demographic trends and choices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Religious Level:Offer marriage\u2011preparation courses and community matchmaking initiatives; mobilise faith communities to support young couples and reinforce family formation as a valued choice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Government Level:\u00a0Provide family\u2011friendly incentives \u2014 for example housing subsidies for married couples, childcare support, tax relief for families with children; promote policies that make marriage and family\u2011building economically feasible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Institutional Level:Encourage workplaces to adopt family\u2011friendly policies (flexible working, parental leave, childcare support); institutions (universities, NGOs) to promote positive family narratives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Media Regulation:\u00a0Monitor and restrict anti\u2011family, anti\u2011marriage narratives and foreign\u2011funded ideological messaging that undermines traditional family structures; encourage media content that affirms marriage, parenting and inter\u2011generational continuity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Crime, Domestic Abuse &amp; Public Disorder<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In 2024, approximately\u00a0130,000 complaintsof domestic violence were registered \u2014 this includes violence in the home and related family\u2011abuse cases.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 2023, there were\u00a02,252 reported casesof sexual harassment against women (including incidents in\u2011home, online, public transport) and many more suspected to be unreported.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drug\u2011related crime is rising: for example, in 2022 around\u00a0152,979 personswere arrested for drug\u2011related offences \u2014 representing a 13\u202f% increase amid the economic crisis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In a household survey on perceptions of personal\/family security,\u00a00%cited drunken disorder\u201d and\u00a031.2%\u00a0cited drug distribution and sale\u201d as causes of insecurity in Sri\u202fLanka.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Trend:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The data show increasing domestic abuse and sexual\u2011violence complaints, suggesting weakening respect for law enforcement and protective systems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drug\u2011use and related arrests rising indicate that poverty, economic stress and social\u2011dislocation are feeding crime and public\u2011disorder.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social media and online platforms are increasingly cited in harassment incidents (online locations noted in the sexual\u2011harassment breakdown) \u2014 suggesting the digital sphere is contributing to the problem.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Community trust in protective institutions may be eroding as issues persist and many crimes remain under\u2011reported and unresolved.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If No Action\u202fIs\u202fTaken:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A spiral into lawlessness: increasing criminal offences will undermine safety, public trust, and the rule of law.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Erosion of moral authority \u2014 households and communities may lose confidence in protective structures; social cohesion could weaken.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Communities may become fragmented, vigilantism or informal justice could rise, and the burden on policing, health and welfare systems will increase.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Solutions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Community Level:\u00a0Encourage neighbourhood vigilance groups, citizen\u2011watch programmes, community policing partnerships, local safe\u2011spaces for victims.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Religious\/Community Bodies:\u00a0Teach civic virtue, moral conduct, respect for law, compassion for victims; mobilise places of worship and community centres as safe\u2011havens and educational hubs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Government Level:\u00a0Strengthen policing \u2014 with community collaboration, victim\u2011support services, better training (especially for gender\u2011based violence and domestic abuse), improved drug rehabilitation and prevention programmes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Institutional Level:\u00a0Ethics training in all institutions (schools, workplaces, civic organisations); programmes promoting social responsibility, pro\u2011social behaviour, and intervention for at\u2011risk youth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Integrated National Response Framework<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Family Level<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restore moral instruction, discipline, and intergenerational guidance within households.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Limit unmonitored technology use; encourage family interaction, shared meals, and discussions on values.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encourage mentorship by grandparents or older family members to transmit cultural and ethical knowledge.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>School Level<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integrate national ethics, civic responsibility, and social values into the curriculum.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reinforce positive media engagement; teach critical thinking to resist harmful ideological influence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Promote cultural identity and awareness of local heritage through structured activities and learning modules.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Religious Level<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Organize respective religious programs to promote family cohesion, virtue, and morality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Deliver sermons addressing addiction, immorality, digital corruption, and the importance of responsible behavior.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Establish youth mentorship initiatives in collaboration with religious communities to foster moral development.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Government Level<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enforce the\u00a0Online Safety Billrigorously to regulate harmful online content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Establish a\u00a0National Morality &amp; Family Protection Taskforceto coordinate policy across ministries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restrict the influence of foreign-funded NGOs and entities that promote ideological narratives conflicting with national values, culture, and morality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Immediately survey all NGOs that are promoting the above cited ills using foreign funding &amp; take action against them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Immediately investigate media \u2013 social media \u2013 activists and even experts\u201d that are also funded to subtly promote societal ills that have been identified above.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Institutional Level<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Implement family-first corporate policies, including flexible working hours, parental support, and child-friendly programs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Partner with religious and civic bodies to provide moral education and community engagement initiatives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encourage institutions to actively promote ethical standards, social responsibility, and youth mentorship programs.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Media &amp; Foreign-Funded Entity Regulation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mandate full transparency of funding sources for media and NGOs, particularly foreign-funded entities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restrict content that undermines family values, faith, or national identity; monitor ideological campaigns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Promote media accountability, cultural preservation, and public-service content emphasizing ethics, morality, and heritage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set of society-groups at village-town-district level to monitor all locals via foreign funded NGOs promoting programs that aspire to disillusion youth &amp; lead them astray through seemingly innocently worded\u201d programs.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Without decisive, multi-level action, Sri Lanka risks replicating Western social decay: collapsing family systems, gender confusion, child exploitation, demographic decline, and national moral erosion. These are nothing to feel proud of. Those that promoted such will disappear or make further hay from the victims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Coordinated intervention from home to state level \u2014 rooted in culture, faith, and duty \u2014 is essential to protect Sri Lanka\u2019s children and preserve its civilization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Societal ills, often promoted through ideologically driven narratives, online platforms, and profit-driven exploitation, disproportionately target our youth and vulnerable communities, eroding family cohesion, moral grounding, and national identity. That is their aim. They are funded for this purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If left unchecked, the consequences are irreversible: generational trauma, demographic decline, collapse of social trust, and the loss of cultural and ethical foundations that have sustained Sri Lankan society for centuries. The stakes are higher than any external security threat; this is a war for the moral and social survival of the nation itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The path forward demands immediate, coordinated action across&nbsp;<strong>families, schools, religious institutions, government, and civic organizations<\/strong>, rooted in our cultural heritage, ethical responsibility, and duty to future generations. Every new school curriculum that attempts to sneak changes that destroyed the youth in the West must be rejected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every level of society must act\u2014protecting children, restoring family bonds, regulating harmful digital content, and reinforcing values that promote integrity, respect, and national cohesion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sri Lanka\u2019s future depends not only on surviving external threats but on&nbsp;<strong>defending its moral and social fabric<\/strong>. Without decisive, multi-sector action now, we risk the slow disintegration of the very civilization we inherited. The time to act is not tomorrow\u2014it is today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shenali D Waduge<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shenali D Waduge Below is a compilation of statistics publicly available covering all the current ills of society which are being presented as normal\u201d and promoted to make profit for those selling or tasked to promote immorality. The statistics cover substance abuse, HIV\/AIDS, prostitution\/sex industry, pornography\/online harms, smoking, alcohol, crime\/domestic abuse, social\u2011media influences. The outcomes [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-152777","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shenali-waduge"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152777","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=152777"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152777\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":152778,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152777\/revisions\/152778"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=152777"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=152777"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=152777"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}