Feb 24, Colombo: Sri Lanka's National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) plans to establish an island wide voluntary force consisting of country's citizens to combat child abuse in the country.

According to a local media report, Chairperson of the NCPA Anoma Dissanayaka has said that the mooted voluntary public force will be trained to identify child abuses and to take immediate steps to prevent such abuses until the authorities can intervene.

She has noted that the assistance of the security forces and local and international child welfare organizations will be sought to establish the voluntary force.

Sri Lanka had a record number of child abuse cases last year. According to the police there has been an increase in incidents related to children last year and during last year, the National Child Protection Authority had received more than 20,000 complaints.