Police raid video parlour catering to students

by Jayampathy Jayasinghe

A pornography video parlour that was patronised mostly to students of two schools at Hospital Road, Kalubowila was raided by the Central Anti Vice Striking Force last Thursday.

SSP Jayantha Perera, Director, in charge of the Central Anti Vice Striking Force (CAVCF) at Walana, Panadura, had received several petitions regarding a man who ran a video parlour close to a school at Hospital Road, Kalubowila, Dehiwela. The Director directed OIC, CAVAF Inspector Duminda Balasuriya to conduct investigations.

According to Inspector Balasuriya the video man's clients were mostly school children who patronised his shop regularly to purchase pornography videos. He had a thriving business selling them to school children.

Each video was rented out to them for Rs. 100. Students who often went absent from school would view these videos at a home where their parents were away at work. Thereafter students would return to their respective homes as if they had attended school.

Meanwhile, a young police recruit from the CAVCF posing as a student had rented out a pornography video after tendering a hundred rupee note.

Thereafter, several policemen waiting outside the video parlour had rushed in and recovered 55 pornography videos.

Police took in for questioning a suspect H. B. Pushpakumara (23) who ran the video parlour. The raid was conducted by SI Manatunga, SI Bandara, PS Weeraratne, PCs Dananjaya, Kumara and Pushpakumara.