Sunday Observer Online
   

Home

Sunday, 13 March 2011

Untitled-1

observer
 ONLINE


OTHER PUBLICATIONS


OTHER LINKS

Marriage Proposals
Classified
Government Gazette

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.

 

EMAIL |   PRINTABLE VIEW | FEEDBACK

Damro
www.army.lk
www.news.lk
www.defence.lk
Donate Now | defence.lk
www.apiwenuwenapi.co.uk
LANKAPUVATH - National News Agency of Sri Lanka
Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL)
 

| News | Editorial | Finance | Features | Political | Security | Sports | Spectrum | Montage | Impact | World | Obituaries | Junior | Magazine |

 
 

Produced by Lake House Copyright © 2011 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

Comments and suggestions to : Web Editor