By The Pulseline News Desk
Sri Lanka is moving to introduce stricter child-protection safeguards in public service recruitment, with the Government proposing a requirement for prospective public servants, particularly those whose duties involve direct access to children, to obtain official certification confirming that they have not been accused of child-related crimes.
Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj has said the relevant Cabinet paper has already been submitted as the Government seeks to strengthen screening procedures for individuals entrusted with the care, education and protection of children.
The proposed mechanism would require applicants for public sector positions involving children to obtain a certificate from the police or another authorised government institution confirming their criminal status in relation to child-related offences.
However, the proposed safeguard would not be limited to new recruits.
According to the Minister, existing public servants would also be required to periodically renew and produce the certificate during service-related milestones, including service confirmations and salary increments.
This would create a continuing screening mechanism rather than a one-time background check conducted only when an individual enters public service.
The Government’s move reflects growing recognition that protecting children requires safeguards not only at the point of recruitment but throughout the period in which an official remains in a position that provides access to children.
Explaining the proposal at a media briefing at the Government Information Department, Minister Paulraj has said it was particularly important to establish that individuals entering public service positions involving children had not been accused of child-related crimes.
She has said the same principle should apply to those already employed in the public sector, requiring them to demonstrate periodically that they had not become involved in child-related crimes during their period of service.
The proposed system could have implications across a wide range of public institutions where employees regularly interact with children, including schools, childcare services, welfare institutions and other agencies responsible for children’s wellbeing.
The Government is now expected to determine the precise scope of the certification process, including the institutions authorised to issue certificates, the categories of employment covered and the frequency with which existing officials would be required to renew them.
At the same time, implementing such a system would require careful attention to due process and privacy, particularly because an accusation is not the same as a conviction. Clear procedures would therefore be essential to ensure that the screening mechanism protects children without unfairly prejudicing individuals who have not been found guilty of an offence.
For Sri Lanka, the proposed measure represents a shift towards continuous child-safety screening within the public service, rather than relying solely on recruitment-stage checks.
As the Government moves forward with the Cabinet proposal, the key challenge will be turning the policy into a system that is comprehensive, regularly enforced and legally sound — while ensuring that children’s safety remains the central priority.
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