Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has said the proposed amendment to Section 19 of the Penal Code, concerning corporal punishment of children, has not been enacted.
Speaking to the media on Friday, the Minister said Parliament had conducted a second reading debate on the Penal Code Amendment Bill on September 24.
He explained that for the amendment to take effect, corresponding changes would also have to be made to the Code of Criminal Procedure, a step that has not yet occurred. The Bill therefore remains pending.
Minister Nanayakkara added that further changes could still be considered during the committee stage in Parliament, where amendments may be tabled.
“The amendment regarding corporal punishment remains at the debate stage and has not been passed as legislation,” he said.