COLOMBO, Apr 3 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Sri Lankan Cabinet of Ministers, has approved amending the existing Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, and presenting a new bill to Parliament, State Minister of Women and Children Affairs, Geetha Kumarasinghe, said yesterday.
Addressing a press conference at the Presidential Media Centre, she said, the government has established temporary detention centres for abused women in eight districts.
The state minister said, the cabinet has approved a provision where a close associate can file a case on behalf of women facing domestic violence.
She said that previously, in March this year, the cabinet approved the Women’s Empowerment Bill, which will also be presented to parliament soon.
Once the Women’s Empowerment Bill is passed in parliament, Sri Lanka can establish the National Commission for Women, she said, adding that, the World Bank too, had provided inputs to the Women’s Empowerment Bill.– NNN-XINHUA
