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| Sunday, 02 April 2006 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Sex in the
city
Sunday crime by Jayampathy Jayasinghe The sprawling sex industry in the Colombo city and its suburbs has once again come under the scrutiny of the police, with raid after raid being carried out almost every week to shut them down. Seamy massage parlours cum brothels have sprouted in every nook and corner of the city and its suburbs. Despite the continuous raids on massage parlours and brothels, the police have not been successful over the years in shutting them completely. Obviously, this is because the sex industry is a thriving business here, like anywhere else in the world. The brothel keepers too have been able to explore the cracks in the system. On the other hand it is unlikely that the police will loosen its grip on brothels. According to sociologists, it has become an impossible task to shut down brothels or prevent men from seeking sensual pleasure at these hot spots. No wonder prostitution is called the oldest profession in the world. In most developed countries however, sex is a legalised industry with mandatory testing of women to prevent the spread of social diseases like gonorrhoea, syphilis,and AIDS. But unfortunately, little has been done here in Sri Lanka, to regularise the sex industry despite the looming threat of AIDS hovering above us. But the big question is whether we will be able to formulate any type of regulations governing the sex industry despite protests from several quarters. The sex industry here is dominated by poor uneducated women coming from disparaged class, lured into the trade by pimps who work along with underworld bosses. It is they who run brothels in the Colombo city and its suburbs. The pimps usually pick up stranded women from bus halts and from railway stations, by promising them employment and cheap accommodation. The women arrive in the city in search of employment from far away places. The pimps are entrusted with the task of handing over these women to brothel keepers who coerce them into prostitution. They work in restaurants as waitresses cum sex performers. "These women are not allowed to move freely and are confined to brothels," a senior police officer said. A fortnight ago the police Central -Anti-Vice Striking Force (CAVSF) raided a massage parlour at Sagara road Bambalapitiya and arrested five women. They were all rural women aged 20-35 from areas like Wattala, Hanwella, Avissawella. They were handed over to the Wellawatte police for further inquiry. This was the third occasion where this massage parlour was raided within a period of one month. Around twenty women were rounded up in all three raids. OIC CAVSF, Inspector Vijitha Perera said despite repeatedly being raided, the massage parlour continued its operation. Clients were charged sums ranging from Rs 1000 upwards for patronising it. "We handed over the women to the Wellawatte police station for further investigation. The manager of the massage parlour too was taken in for questioning." The OIC said the massage parlour was raided after obtaining a search warrant from courts. The raids were conducted on the directions of DIG, A Fonseka, Supdt. of Police Jayantha Perera and ASP V. Ranaweera (JJ) to rid the city of crime and vice. According to OIC Vijitha Perera several brothels that operate in the city and its suburbs are disguised as massage parlours. Few people genuinely go for a massage, but many visit such places to indulge in sexual activity. Last September the police raided a brothel near the Technical College at Maradana and took in for questioning four women between the ages of 25-30. They were from areas like Avissawella, Puwakpitiya and Dereniyagala. The women were promised employment in a restaurant and brought to the brothel by pimps. The brothel owner had charged Rs 1500 from customers for sleeping with the women. The brothel at Gunasinghepura was raided and eight women were taken in for questioning. Police swooped on the brothels at Dankotuwa and Pugoda where they took into custody 12 women. The women pleaded guilty to the charges and are now awaiting sentence. On a tip off, the Central Anti Vice Striking Force (CAVSF) also raided the brothels at Boralesgamuwa and Pita-Kotte and took into custody 12 women. They were taken before court, but pleaded not guilty to the charges. Police raided a brothel in Negombo and nine women were taken in for questioning. Last year police raided a guest house at Walana Panadura and arrested three women. The women were supplied to known businessmen from the area. A brothel which caters to affluent businessmen in Colombo was raided and four foreign women were taken in for questioning. Police raided two brothels at Maharagama and Pugoda and took into custody 16 women found there. They were later produced to the courts. |
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