July 04, Tangalle: A ruling party local government councilor of Tangalle Urban Council and two others have surrendered to the police today over the rape of a 13-year-old girl at a hotel in the southern beach town of Tangalle.

The suspects have surrendered to the Children and Women Bureau unit of the Tangalle Police this morning, local radio reported.

The 13-year-old girl who ran away from home was sexually abused by 17 men for 6 days at the hotel managed by one of the suspects.

The police have arrested all the suspects of the crime.

Meanwhile, the Children and Women Bureau unit of Matara police have arrested the Chairman of the Akuressa Pradeshiya Sabha on suspicion of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl today.

The chairman, Liyanage Sunil (48), who is suspected of sexually abusing the child at a lodge belonging to him in May of this year, is to be produced before the Matara Magistrate today, the police said.

Recently incidents of crimes involving ruling party local government officials in the southern province are seems to be rising, political observers in the country notice.

Despite tough laws in existence, child molestations have been alarmingly on the increase in Sri Lanka, since the punishments are not imposed strictly, child advocacy groups point out.