Lanka commended for effort to prevent Child Sex Tourism

by Anjana Gamage

International organisations engaged in combating child sex tourism (CST) globally has highly commended the steps currently in place in Sri Lanka to combat sexual exploitation of children in the tourism trade," Daily News" learns.

The Executive Committee of the main body on prevention of Child Sex Tourism (CST) globally met in London recently and discussed the proposals and suggestions that have been presented by the member countries on preventing CST.

Representing Sri Lanka, was Dr.P.Ramanujam, Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism who is a permanent observer to the committee.

According to him , the executive committee expressed its appreciation on Sri Lanka's role of understanding the problems and formulating projects and programs to eradicate the menace in the country.

Dr. Ramanujam presented the country paper of Sri Lanka on CST at the Task Force meeting held in London parallel to the commencement of World Travel Market (WTM) there.

Dr. Ramanujam also explained to the Task Force on the proposed action plan on Child Sex Tourism (CST) in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile he emphasized at the meeting, that sexual exploitation of children by tourists constitutes only a small proportion compared to the abuse by local citizens.

He further said that Sri Lanka tourism would take a lead role in the implementation of projects and programs to eradicate child sex tourism with the assistance of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA).

Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB) with the assistance of the UNICEF, Ministry of Tourism, the NCPA and other tourism related authorities such as SriLankan Airlines, leading tourist hotels will launch the country's first ever national action plan on CST with the firm ambition of achieving zero tolerance against child exploitation in the country, shortly.