Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2023-01-23

Proclaiming a Day on Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses

- Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crimes and Witnesses Act, No.4 of 2015 has been introduced to create a proper mechanism to identify and promote rights and entitlements of victims and witnesses. Accordingly, National Authority for the Victims of Crime and Witnesses was established. Considering the number of persons particularly the women and children victimized as a result of rise in crimes in Sri Lanka, it has been identified that it is appropriate to proclaim a day on assistance to and protection of victims of crime and witnesses with the purpose of making the society aware of protection of victims of crime and witnesses as well as sensitizing Public Institutions and public officials. Accordingly, the proposal directed by the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms to proclaim 07th of March, the day on which Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crimes and Witnesses Act, No.4 of 2015 was enacted as the Day on Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crimes and Witnesses, was granted approval by the Cabinet.