Sri Lanka, June 25 -- Health authorities have raised alarm over the increasing number of domestic violence cases reported across the country, emphasising the severe toll it takes on family well-being and mental health.

Family Physician Dr. Dinusha Perera revealed that interventions and support services reached 12,198 affected families in 2023 alone. She stressed the urgent need for early detection, community awareness and preventive action to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly women and children.

According to Dr. Perera, 91% of those seeking assistance were women, with only 9% being men. She also noted a noticeable rise in incidents of physical, emotional and verbal abuse within households, especially during periods of economi...