Labour and Trade Union Minister John Seneviratne has said the government plans to crack down strongly on child labour.

Towards this end, the Minister said, the government would impose a fine of Rs. 25, 000 on those found using child labour.

The Minister further added that there were reports of children between the ages of 15 and 17 being used for drug smuggling.

“We will crack down strongly on this,” he said.

There are an estimated minimum of 150,000 child labourers in Sri Lanka.