40,000 prostitutes in the country

26 December 2010 08:50 am - 82 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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There are around 200,000 prostitute seekers and around 40,000 prostitutes in the country, according to a survey, Dr. Sujatha Samarakoon attached to the AIDS prevention unit of the Health Ministry said..

She said that these figures are something that has to be seriously taken into account considering the fact that Sri Lanka is a small country, in spite of spreading of HIV/ AIDS in Sri Lanka being considered to be minimal.

She called those who suspect of their vulnerability to the deadly disease to get their blood tested as there are arrangements to get it done confidentially.

There are around 3000 people identified as those infected with HIV and the number of people yet to be identified must be larger than that, she said and added that there are 50 infected mothers and 46 children who had been infected through their mothers.

212 people have died of AIDS in Sri Lanka since the first AIDS patient was found and they were between 20 and 49 years of age. (Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa)

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Comments - 82

demon Sunday, 26 December 2010 03:17 PM

well said...

Raja Monday, 27 December 2010 06:42 AM

"Aasiyawe Aascharyya" suba Anagathayak

Muraly Monday, 27 December 2010 06:21 AM

Make it legal. That is the best way to short this out.

Masood Monday, 27 December 2010 06:21 AM

Well, Its a part of economy, u get foreign currency, so we must register them to get tax. Not to prevent this business, but to expand, living example Thailand!

TMA Monday, 27 December 2010 04:50 AM

Further illegalazing prostitution will not solve the problem. Best solution now is regulate. Australia is a good example

citizen1 Monday, 27 December 2010 04:41 AM

Agree totally. Here people seem to think they are above the rest of humanity. Those who preach morals and pretend to be pure are the worst offenders.

Chandra Monday, 27 December 2010 03:46 AM

These statistics are just exposing a problem that has been around on earth for a very long time. What is also not known very well is that incest (fathers raping daughters) is highly prevalent in rural Sri Lanka. The next time you see such news items reported in western TV media, don't be so smug thinking that these horrible things don't happen in Sri Lanka.

Knight Rider Monday, 27 December 2010 03:39 AM

most people in this trade are forced into it due to poverty others for the greed of money. Bangkok and Thailand are very religious and strong Buddhist countries too.

si lanka Monday, 27 December 2010 02:55 AM

Stop all prositute places immediatly

Dr. Ray Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:19 PM

Not Enough Prison Cells and NOT Enough Money to Feed and Satisfy them while in Prison.

WICKRAMA Sunday, 26 December 2010 05:13 PM

God works in mysterious ways!!

Anna Penna Monday, 27 December 2010 07:41 AM

90% of prostitutes are ex Gulf House Maids. Families broken as a result of no show at night for hubies and lack of jobs after Gulf suffering. (sad but true, take my word).

VEL Sunday, 26 December 2010 12:22 PM

Very very dangerous situation,should be write a article on news about the aids presentation.

A to Z Sunday, 26 December 2010 12:05 PM

i think we have much bigger problems in this country than this...

Bim Sunday, 26 December 2010 11:52 AM

I believe we should have these things in a country.May be most people will disagree but if we look in to details , reduce raping,sexual harassment will be very less.people who will go to pros. for their need coz all are humans and its a part of life prostitute who sell her body for money (for Sure) or pleasure it depends person to person.But we must educate them with health care and etc.No men or women will be frustrated if the things are licensed.

Double Edge Sunday, 26 December 2010 11:44 AM

When you have 1 Million women out in the Arab, this is the end result. Solution is not marrying N number of times, but, bringing the women back to their husbands.

Siri Sunday, 26 December 2010 11:48 AM

When morality and decency is scoffed at and MONEY is made the meaning of life, alleviating root causes for women to be forced into prostitution is not in the agenda of governance - hence, horse racing, casinos, formula car racing, night clubs etc are mere parts of the Govt's money making package. Subha Anagathayak only for the wicked!

Siri Sunday, 26 December 2010 11:33 AM

Double edge - So 200, 000 'strong men with proven success' have ended up chasing 40,000 prostitutes? What a legacy for a country that's only second to Thailand for pomposity & self-praise!

Roshan Sunday, 26 December 2010 11:21 AM

This is a religious base (Buddhism,Hinduism, Islamic and Christianity ) country. Why our government not going to take action against to this ugly behavior. On the other hand lower income positively correlated to prostitution. As a solution for this is good religious back and higher income to the people of the country.

shan Monday, 27 December 2010 10:37 AM

Well done.Ask the prostitutes to Sing the national anthem in sinhala and they may change their mind.

rice Monday, 03 January 2011 07:46 AM

well said hussein. There is no stopping this trade so lets all get real. The best we can do it regulate it so that no underage person enters sex work and no one is trafficked against their will. But unless we acknowledge the situation, we cant do anything about it. time to wake up and face reality sri lanka...

DHK Tuesday, 28 December 2010 12:13 PM

Yea.. if this 200,000 goes once a week to a pros. One pros only has 5 customers per week. if 200,000 goes once a month in average. these pros have only 5 customers per month. Pros job must be low profitable or most of 40 000 would be part timers.

xlntgson Tuesday, 28 December 2010 10:51 AM

@lalith, If it is legalized for everyone, dick and derry, then what is the meaning of marriage?

xlntgson Tuesday, 28 December 2010 10:49 AM

Don't insult the national anthem @shan, this is not the place to mention that even, better you don't sing or listen to the music version even!

lalith Monday, 27 December 2010 05:16 PM

government should leagal prostitute so then everybody happy

n.c.wijeratne Monday, 27 December 2010 04:27 PM

Government is reaching their target in this feild!

Cedan Monday, 27 December 2010 12:35 PM

As illegal put them behind bar. Police Department will be on night shift.

ginadasa ginigaddage Monday, 27 December 2010 12:15 PM

Supposed to be the earliest profession in the world.As long as 'SEX' exist it will prevail.It can be minimised by proper counselling and irradication of poverty, which is the main factor, as i see.

Double Edge Monday, 27 December 2010 11:22 AM

You can't be a Sri Lankan for sure, this is insulting the National Anthem. We have a bunch people in Our Mother Land, worse than prostitutes.

Wikileaks lanka Sunday, 26 December 2010 11:23 AM

Sri Lanka becomes Prostitute Hub, casino hub, gaming hub, knowledge hub, financial hub, logistics hub goes so on

TMA Monday, 27 December 2010 10:33 AM

As U can C AIDS is not caused by prostitution, but our culture

deva fernando Monday, 27 December 2010 10:00 AM

Shows the double moral of Sir Lankans. Dharma deepa only by name. are the political prostitutes included in this list? the sri lankan society is rottenning!

I Hussein Monday, 27 December 2010 09:46 AM

Once i have attended an AIDS seminar in the 90s. A doctor gave an example in his speach, a group of AIDS preventive or awarness team suggested to place condoms in Hotel rooms free of charge. Ministry of health reacted badly objected that its against the culture, therefore we should place condoms.
You cannot stop prostitution in any country. All you can do is educate people how to have safe sex.

Double Edge Monday, 27 December 2010 09:30 AM

When the business is good, do you have anyone to add to that club, as you love MONEY so much.

Pradeep Monday, 27 December 2010 09:20 AM

Or Yes.. Its 9,000 ++ views so far. As per the demand, We shoud have more espect.

Conga.. Monday, 27 December 2010 09:13 AM

I totally agree... this means for each prostitute only 5 seekers on average ? then the prices should plum-ate as there is a drastic over supply.
Realistically this should be like 1,000,000 seekers to 15,000 givers.

kassa Monday, 27 December 2010 08:20 AM

what would be happens?

Keep it up Monday, 27 December 2010 07:42 AM

You have a point with room for improvement.

radhun Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:09 AM

a road to sex tourism

tharanga Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:33 AM

Just have a search in to night clubs colombo. you will find prostitutes local and foreigners both at various prices. you know this is a open secret.

cracko Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:19 AM

What is the problem? This is a hidden agenda by the Govt to lure tourists, like Thailand. Opening up more casinos is another. After all since the Govt is unable to provide employment opportunities it can argue that they are helping people earn in otherways. They will vote for this Govt to continue.

Kotte Kusum Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:23 AM

MR do something to put this problem , otherwise SL is going to face a big health problem.

Aiyo Sirisena Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:18 AM

So, you are reading magazines on the subject. Good luck. Now we know there is atleast one. LOL

m b m haseeb Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:18 AM

high time for the gov t to open a new ministry and grab a mp from opposition give him a minister post, Mr. President dont let go the opportunity,

Pathirage Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:15 AM

Why not import Prostitues to get the balance right. This will also help to add variety... :)

xlntgson Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:16 AM

Why go behind these people's bottoms?
Those who don't have job can go behind them.
There should be a vent to let the steam, otherwise it will burst, better legalize for certain categories, ripe age or ugliness or not marriageable rejected due to deformities retardation etc.
Sex crimes, rape, incest, resultant teenage or unwanted pregnancy; paedophilia and pederasty will be under check!

Jullian Assange Wkl Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:14 AM

There is no country on earth free of prostitutes as its the world’s oldest profession. The authorities must take every effort to prevent women from hitting the road. Not encouraging it by allowing massage parlors & karaoke’s to operate in every street corner. Please allow people to have free access to Condoms.

Nick Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:08 AM

Mr. President, Supply is not enough for the demand...

Vikum Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:05 AM

By opening up new casinos Sri Lanka can increase this number up to 500000 in a short period of time..... GOD SAVE SL

Asange Juliano Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:34 AM

There is no country on earth free of prostitutes as its the world’s oldest profession. The authorities must make every effort to prevent women from hitting the road. Not encouraging it by allowing massage parlors & karaoke’s to operate in every street corner.( Please allow people to have free access to Condoms.)

Double edge Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:00 AM

God has no time to monitor prostitutes, I pray god to look in to people in Haiti and heal their suffering first.

Double edge Sunday, 26 December 2010 09:57 AM

That may be your wish; but, SL is a country of strong men with proven success.

krishan Sunday, 26 December 2010 09:40 AM

Actually the should be 200,225. You have not taken into account the unparliametarians.

damith Sunday, 26 December 2010 09:46 AM

check in all hotels with cid. then we can find out many

YURI Sunday, 26 December 2010 09:33 AM

Is it including the MALE Prostitute? i read in a magazin saying Thailand for Girls and Sri Lanka for Boys. This is great Potential , thats only option This country has now

Jehan Sunday, 26 December 2010 09:12 AM

200,000 only? if thats the aprox. figure this country is damn good.
40,000 is also a joke, I am sure many of you agree with me. You can do a research or study of course, but can you do a count? Who is goona claim that she is a whore?

KABAB Sunday, 26 December 2010 09:10 AM

Firstly should commend the efforts of Dr. Sujatha Samarakoon. Secondly, if this prostitution is an illegal act, why can't the authorities arrest and take legal action against them?

zafar mustafa siddiq Sunday, 26 December 2010 09:10 AM

OH MY GOD PLEASE HELP TO GET RID OF THIS SITUATION

Nalaka Weerakody Sunday, 26 December 2010 08:57 AM

the supply and demand is not propotinately met see in this figure it is 200,000 to 40,000.

adahan Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:55 AM

This investment free business is fast increasing due to high cost of living caused by the present regime.May be in the future there will be a decline in the number of pleasure-seekers if the sky rocketing cost of living continues persistently.

channa Sunday, 26 December 2010 11:17 AM

Exactly....This has been in SL for long time and has incresed from 1977 due to open economy.....GR & MR pls take action to reduce this....

nagu Sunday, 26 December 2010 11:15 AM

This is not something new......This all started with the open economy in 1977...Anyway we should reduce this as much as possible....

Musthafa Bawa Sunday, 26 December 2010 11:06 AM

Among the 200,000 seekers, what is the % married men. why can not they go for second wife legally????? - people must learn the religion also Goverment must urge every one to follow thier religion

Maubima Adanawa Sunday, 26 December 2010 11:06 AM

Dr. Sujatha, Is 40,000 including part timers ?. Very sad situation though.

sltk2004 Sunday, 26 December 2010 11:02 AM

You must be kidding..If SL is so full of strong men with proven success, they why are there so many rape cases and murder cases related to rape, and suicides and murders due to rejection?

Mifaz Sunday, 26 December 2010 11:06 AM

The reality is. There service is required.. to achieve the mission of SMALL MIRACLE..

Anna Penna Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:58 AM

Don't even think of it, must try to prevent it. (minimize)

sltk2004 Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:58 AM

Then who's going to take care of those 200,000 ?

blackwidow Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:55 AM

yum yum!!

eresh S kumara Sunday, 26 December 2010 08:54 AM

OMG.. Whats gonna happen to SL

nissanka Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:50 AM

Take it easy. Didn't you know that this is the oldest profession in the world ?.

Shehan123 Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:46 AM

SEE THE DEMAND BY VIEWS , SO FAR 1900 ++

lETS MAKE IT LEAGAL.

local boy Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:38 AM

if the supply is not enough contact doctor please

Cheena Pattas Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:38 AM

Start with 5 start hotels.

Cheena Pattas Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:37 AM

The worlds oldest profession. It is making a comeback in Sri Lanka. Why?

Sabri Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:41 AM

5 shifts per day...! lol..!

Anselm Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:41 AM

Now the ruling party will get the stupid idea of taxing the prostitutes and their customers since the total number could be well over 150,000 and 500,000 respectively. A very good income for the Ministers to live like emperors by legalising this profession which never goes bankrupt. "Hithata setha".

X man Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:32 AM

Desire for sexual behaviour is natural and can not enforce regulation to keep away from physical contact.According to our history Kings had ANTHAPPURA....

Anna Penna Sunday, 26 December 2010 10:37 AM

Take it easy, this is a part of so called development. soon, we will have red light streets in SL.

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40,000 prostitutes in the country

Comments - 82

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