He is responding to an inquiry by Sri Lanka Mirror as to whether the appointment of committees or enforcing new laws could arrest the increasing incidence of child abuse and rape of women.

Gunaratne said this was not a matter for which criminal law has an answer.

During the Rajapaksa regime, we all saw lawbreakers like Mervyn Silva having a heyday, with children seeing in the media how men were being tied to trees, being issued with threats etc., which prompted them to think that they could become popular if they committed crimes.

They know they cannot become popular by writing a book, studying at Dhamma School, or knowing about Martin Wickremasinghe or Gunadasa Amarasekara.

When a crime of significance takes place, the media show pictures and have many discussions, while government ministers seek answers like how the blind man felt an elephant to know its shape.

Gunaratne said he believed none in the cabinet have the wisdom to understand this issue, although they might make the law stricter or introduce the death penalty.