The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has taken action to set up safe houses and foster homes in each province of the country to provide safety and care for abused children.

These safe houses will be established in collaboration with provincial probation commissioners under the guidance of the NCPA and the first would be opened in the North Central Province, where necessary infrastructure facilities were already in place.

“We are hoping these houses will provide a safe haven for abused children as well as to child witnesses who will be kept safe from the influence of external factors,” NCPA Chairperson Anoma Dissanayake said.

The Chairperson said that NCPA was also looking for individuals who were willing to take care of the children who could not be sent to their parents or relatives for rehabilitation.

“We are prepared to pay these individuals to take care of these children,” she said.

Mrs. Dissanayake said a fund had been regulated under the Act for donations, which would in turn finance the safe houses and a foster care system and added that anyone willing to contribute to the fund could do so to Account No: 71252941 at the Bank of Ceylon, Nugegoda Branch or call 011 2778911/2 for more information.