Jan 20, Colombo: Sri Lankan authorities have said that there is an increase in the number of destitute children in the Jaffna District of Northern Province.

The Jaffna District Secretary's Office has stated that there has been an increase in destitute children in the Jaffna District since 2010.

A local media report quoting official statistics has stated that there had been 489 children abandoned by their parents in the Jaffna District in 2010.

The figure has increased to 491 in 2011 and has further increased to 614 in 2012.

The Jaffna District Secretary's Office has stated that the authorities were looking into the issue.