evidence: Several pressing issues have arisen as there is an estimated 30,000 street children, who engage in begging, in various locations across the country, Wasantha Athukorala, a senior professor in the Department of Economics and Statistics, at the University of Peradeniya, revealed. [...] Expressing his views on the matter, Professor Athukorala emphasised the gravity of the situation, describing it as a pressing concern that profoundly impacts the future. He noted the absence of a proper data system maintained by the government regarding these children and stresses that the government’s responsibility is to establish an accurate data system. Without intervention, he warned that the number of street children may continue to rise, potentially leading to increased criminal activities such as drug use, trafficking, theft, fraud and sexual abuse. Research findings reveal that parents or temporary guardians often exploit these young children for begging and other money-making activities. Many of these children, aged between 4 and 15, who engage in begging alone or accompany adults in bustling cities and religious sites, are deprived of education, he said.