Penal Code lacks teeth to book human traffickers

by Harshini PERERA

Human trafficking is on the increase and there is no sufficient legal arrangements to bring the culprits to book, Chief Inspector, Buddhika Balachandra, OIC of Children's and Women's Bureau told the Sunday Observer

Human trafficking is considered as an illegal act, under the Penal Code of Sri Lanka under Section 360 C. Human traffickers will be punished according to the penal code.

The 16th Act has also been added as the newest amendment to the penal code.

Human trafficking has raised its head in brothel houses, Karaoke clubs, Night clubs and massage centres around the country. Women from 16-35 and children, are retained by force in those places.

Most of them have come to the city metropolis from rural areas which are approximately 100 kms away, according to the Chief Inspector.

He said that traffickers modus operandi was to use women's financial difficulties as a ruse to drag them into this profession.

Such instances can be frequently seen in the Free Trade Zone in Katunayake. Young poverty striken girls get lured due to the financial attraction involved. Meanwhile traffickers also use money as a lure to convince the girls that once they are raped, she might lose all her hopes of a successful family life.

Inevitably the victims are left with no option. Traffickers also blackmail raped victims and threaten them of revealing their pornographic videos.