Sri Lanka's cabinet, on Wednesday approved a proposal to maintain "protection centers" throughout the island for women victimized by domestic violence, rape, and sexual smugglers, Xinhua reported.

Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilleke told journalists in the weekly Cabinet media briefing that in addition to providing legal assistance, counselling and medical services to women victimized by domestic violence, rape, and sexual smugglers, there is a need to maintain temporary protection centers.

The first protection center by the government was established in 2012 and subsequently several others have been set up in provincial level, the minister said.

Private Centers are also maintained with the assistance of government hospitals, police and NGOs.

The guidelines for maintaining such protection centers was presented by Chandrani Bandara, Minister of Women and Child Affairs, and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, Karunathilleke said.