Sri Lanka's archaic Penal Code is based on 19th century British law.

Mar 29, Colombo: Sri Lanka police says that adolescent love of teens should be punished to minimize the rising crime in the country.

Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara said activities of some teens below sixteen years of age result in major crimes as they are unable to understand the real meaning of the relationships.

According to the penal code of Sri Lanka love affairs between the persons below sixteen years of age are completely prohibited. If anyone found guilty of this offence the Court could imprison the male, SSP Gunasekara added.

The police department asked the parents to watch their children below sixteen years of age to prevent the children from engaging in unnecessary activities like love affairs.

Activists say Sri Lanka's archaic Penal Code, based on 19th century British law need to be revised to take teens' psychological well-being into consideration and punish the crimes they have committed and not the relationships.