The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is taking steps to address sexual violence with proposed amendments to the offense of rape. Under the new Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, GoSL aims to strengthen legal protections for victims and increase accountability for perpetrators.

One of the key provisions under review is the age of consent. The current age stands at under eighteen years, but the Bill suggests raising it to under twenty-two years.

Moreover, the Bill addresses the vulnerability of women to rape offenses. It proposes retaining the existing scope of section 363 of the Penal Code while introducing a new section to explicitly define the offense of rape concerning all individuals.

Another notable amendment involves the removal of provisions exempting marital relationships from the definition of rape.

In response to these proposed amendments, Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya, Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), emphasised the importance of prioritising the best interests of the child and maintaining the age of consent under eighteen years. 

He also commended the efforts to address the vulnerability of women to rape offenses, urging for comprehensive consultations with relevant stakeholders to ensure broad consensus and informed decision-making.

These proposed amendments come at a crucial time when there is a growing recognition of the need to strengthen laws against sexual violence. However, the success of these amendments will depend not only on their passage but also on effective implementation and enforcement.