Sri Lanka has banned the adoption of children orphaned by the tsunami after U.N. warnings that children were in danger of exploitation, the BBC said Friday.
The island nation, which estimates it has lost 30,615 people in the disaster, not counting another 4,356 still missing, implemented the ban after the United Nations publicly worried that criminal gangs were targeting orphans to sell as slaves or sex workers.
"Not even a Sri Lankan can adopt a child affected by this disaster until the government has come out with their program," said government spokesman Managala Samaraweera. "Even if they are relatives, they are not expected to take children without government permission."
Some 9,000 children were forced to leave their homes during the tsunami, and officials fear many have been abducted.
Meanwhile, 60 Indian children's advocacy groups united in calling for a yearlong ban on adoptions of tsunami orphans.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
