The Government is considering changing the laws dealing with statutory rape to allow partners who are below the age of consent to engage in physical relations, if the age difference between them is around three years. The changes have been recommended by the Law Commission of Sri Lanka. The change is being proposed as more [...]

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Statutory rape: Laws to change age of consent

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The Government is considering changing the laws dealing with statutory rape to allow partners who are below the age of consent to engage in physical relations, if the age difference between them is around three years.

The changes have been recommended by the Law Commission of Sri Lanka.

The change is being proposed as more than 60 to 70 per cent of cases of rape recorded involve those charged under the statutory rape laws and are children in their mid-teens who are below the age of consent of 16 but have been in consensual relationships with partners close to their own age.

Under the relevant existing law, sexual relations between a man and woman less than 16 years of age is regarded as rape committed by the man even if it is consensual and offenders can face up to ten years in prison.

The Law Commission has also recommended bringing down the age of consent to 15 as is the case in most countries. (CK)

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