Brothels functioned without hindrance:
They came in hordes...
The two infamous brothels that functioned at Dankotuwa and
Dummaladeniya Wennappuwa flourished. Like moths being attracted to a
flame, hordes of wealthy businessmen, corporate clients, service
personnel and criminals flocked to these brothels often to quench their
insatiable sexual desires. It was a well-known fact that these brothels
operated round the clock, free from any hinderance from the police.
Several female sex workers from different parts of the country were
provided lodging facilities at here.
Policemen in Dankotuwa and Wennappuwa were aware that the mastermind
who ran these brothels was a police driver-cum constable of a politician
from the area. The policeman also acted as a bodyguard to the
politician.
The matter came to light six months ago when the two brothels were
raided by a vice Squad on the directions of Senior DIG, North Western
Province, Nimal Leuke. After extensive investigations the police found
that the man behind the brothel racket was a police constable assigned
to a politician in the area. The constable was attached to the
Wennappuwa police.
However, on a confidential report submitted by Senior DIG Leuke the
constable was transferred immediately to the Koswatte police station and
thereafter to Polgahawela police station on disciplinary grounds. The
constable in question had not reported to any police station where he
was transferred. He is said to have vacated post. But he still continues
to work for the politician concerned, sources said. The Central Anti
Vice Striking Force (CAVSF) has gathered fresh evidence regarding the
involvement of the policeman, sources said.
It became apparent to policemen in the area that anyone who
interfered with the operation of the two brothels ran the risk of being
transferred to some remote outpost. The policemen were mindful of such
pitfalls and turned a blind eye to the activities of brothel. However,
the public showed their anger when these brothels were not raided by the
local police. They began to question the integrity of the policemen at
Wennappuwa and Dankotuwa police stations. Residents be realised that
criminals too patronised the brothel which was a threat to peace and
stability in these areas. Parents too became worrisome that it had a bad
influence on their children. Residents who were fed up with the
lame-duck attitude of the local police, petitioned IGP Mahinda
Balasuriya urging him to raid the brothels.
A fortnight ago IGP Balasuriya while leafing through the heap of
petitions ordered DIG Staff DIG Mashes Samaradivakara and Director
Central Anti Vice Striking Force (CAVSF) Superintendent of Police,
U.P.Jayasinghe to investigate the allegations in the petition. The
Director CAVSF, SP Jayasinghe then instructed OIC CAVSF Duminda
Balasuriya to conduct a surveillance mission at Dankotuwa and Wennappuwa
to ascertain facts prior to raiding the premises. Policemen in plain
clothes were despatched to these areas to gather information regarding
the brothels.
The policemen made discreet inquiries from people at Dankotuwa and
Wennappuwa and found the allegations in the petitions were in fact true.
They also learnt that a female sex worker can be procured for a sum of
Rs. 2000- 5000 from brothels at Dankotuwa and Wennappuwa. They further
learnt that a policeman assigned to a politician was the mastermind
behind the brothel operation at Wennappuwa. Having gathered sufficient
information the police party returned to Walana Panadura and reported
facts to OIC Inspector Duminda Balasuriya.
As there was sufficient evidence regarding the brothels at Dankotuwa
and Wennappuwa, Sub Inspector Janitha Perera and several police
constables were despatched to the Marawila Magistrates Courts to explain
facts to courts and thereafter to obtain a search warrant to raid the
brothels at Dankotuwa and Wennappuwa. The Marawila Magistrate Chandana
Kalansuriya issued two search warrants for the police to raid the two
brothels. Thereafter the police party returned to Walana Panadura to
organise a raid. Meanwhile a police plain clothes man who posed off as
wealthy businessman was sent to the Wennappuwa Beach hotel at
Dummaladeniya. He was briefed by OIC Balasuriya to introduce himself to
the manager of the hotel as a businessman and to request for a woman. He
was further instructed to tender mark notes to the manager after
procuring the woman.
Two policemen disguised as businessmen were despatched to Wennappuwa
and Dankotuwa brothels to procure women. Several other plain clothes
policemen who accompanied them were instructed to wait outside the
brothels. They were told to raid the brothels once they receive a
message from the decoys. The decoy sent to Wennappuwa met the manager of
the brothel and introduced himself as a businessman.
He then requested for a woman. The businessman was then shown four
women to make his selection. He was then provided with a woman when he
tendered Rs. 3000 and was requested to proceed to a room in the brothel.
Meanwhile, another policeman posing off as a businessman who watched the
transaction signalled the police party waiting outside the hotel.
The police party then rushed inside the brothel and took into custody
a 31-year-old woman from Elpitiya and three other women sex workers.
“The three sex workers were between the age groups of 20-32. The women
were natives of Udupusselawa, Kamburugoda, Tissamaharama, and Seeduwa
areas. The four women and the young Manager of the brothel were taken
into custody” police said.
Thereafter the police party proceeded to Dankotuwa where the other
brothel was situated at Pannala road Dankotuwa. Here too the same tactic
was put into operation.
A policeman posing off as a prosperous businessman was able to
procure a woman aged 29, a resident of Welipanne Gahamulla after paying
Rs. 2,000 to the manager. Police after raiding the hotel took into
custody seven women aged from 22-35 years.
The women sex workers came from Waikala, Marawila Wattala,
Diulapitiya, Negombo and Padiyatalawa, and Kerawalapitiya. Most women
came from broken homes.
Among them were divorced women and others who have been subject to
degrading treatment by their spouses. It was found that brothel keepers
who earned large sums of money off these women intern paid them paltry
sums. The suspects taken into custody were produced before the Marawila
Magistrate Chandana Kalansuriya, police said.
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