Seven twilight women fined

by Jayampathy Jayasinghe

Marawila Magistrate Chandana Kalansooriya last week fined seven women found in a brothel at Samurdhi Bank Road, Sirisevana in the Dankotuwa area Rs 50,000 each when they pleaded guilty, a senior police officer told the Sunday Observer.

The brothel was raided by Inspector Duminda Balasuriya, the OIC of the Walana Vice Squad, Panadura after a search warrant was issued by the Marawila Magistrate. The raid was conducted after a decoy of policemen procured a woman at the brothel.

Following the raid the seven women were taken in for questioning by the Walana Vice Squad.

However, the manager of the brothel fled on a motor-cycle when he saw a posse of policemen approaching the brothel. Police later recovered his motor-cycle which had been abandoned in the Dankotuwa area along with some documents. “We have identified the suspect and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. The police had told the Marawila Magistrate that despite the raid the brothel continued to function with the support of a prominent businessman in the area.

Clients who call at the brothel are being supplied young women who wait in vehicles and trishaws near the hotel. The women turn up at the brothel when they are called.

The Magistrate also issued another search warrant on the brothel OIC Walana Vice Squad Inspector Balasuriya told court that they had found three women in a car, two in a trishaw and three at the brothel.

Following submissions the Marawila Magistrate ordered the police to produce the car and the trishaw and arrest the suspect.

The Magistrate also issued summons on the businessman who is alleged to be running the brothel and the case will be called again on September 28, police said.