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[4 July 2012] - Cases of rape and molestation of children, especially rape of teenage girls, have risen alarmingly in Sri Lanka this year with over 700 incidents of rape or abuse of children reported during the first six months of the year. Police media spokesman Superintendent of Police Ajith Rohana told media Thursday that the number was out of a total of around 900 complaints of rape and abuse of women and children received by the police this year. In the latest case, five persons including a councillor of the Tangalle Urban Council have been charged with repeatedly raping a 13-year-old girl at an inn in the southern beach town of Tangalle. The suspects who have surrendered to the police yesterday have been remanded until the 17th of this month. The underage girl who ran away from home was sexually abused by 19 men for six days at the hotel managed by the councillor. In a separate incident, another ruling party politician in the southern town of Akuressa in Matara district was jailed on Wednesday over allegations he raped a 14-year-old girl. According to the police spokesman, last year police recorded over 1,700 incidents of rape and abuse of children and women. Around 1,160 of those cases were involving children. The police spokesman says the rise in the number of rape cases shows the need to impose tougher laws on the offenders. Despite tough laws in existence, child molestation has been alarmingly on the increase in Sri Lanka, since the punishments are not imposed strictly, especially when politicians are involved in the crimes, child rights groups point out. They say most of the offenders get out on bail and repeat the crimes and call for authorities to make rape a non-bailable offence. Further Information: