Six including two transgender persons nabbed for on-line prostitution

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama  

Six foreign women including two identified transgender persons from the Philippines, one from India and Pakistan and two from Ukraine were arrested for operating an on-line prostitution service in a star class hotel in Colombo, Immigration Department Deputy Controller (Investigations) M. G. V. Kariyawasam revealed.  
The suspects were aged between 20 and 28 years, the official explained.  

The raid was conducted after assessing the suspects’ arrival and lodging details and according to  information received by the immigration officers, he continued.  
This prostitution service was operated in a well-organised manner and this service used to operate in several other countries as well through websites, 
Mr. Kariyawasam said.  
“The organisers get their clients by verifying them through WhatsApp and then make sure that they do not harm their business. The organisers used to keep contact only using international telephone numbers. They never used to answer any local numbers,” he explained.  
The arrested foreigners were sent to the detention centre at Mirihana for further investigations, he added.  

The raid was conducted by the Immigration Intelligence Unit Officers, under the direction of the Immigration Department 

Deputy Controller (Investigations) M. G. V. Kariyawasam and with the support of the Controller General Pasan Rathnayake.

This prostitution service was operated in a well-organised manner and this service used to operate in several other countries as well through websites