Sri Lankans turning to overseas adult websites for income, Police warn

Colombo, Nov. 10 (Daily Mirror) - Police said yesterday that an increasing number of Sri Lankans are reported to be turning to online sexual content production as several adult websites and mobile applications operated overseas offer monetary incentives.

It was revealed that many users, particularly young couples, have reportedly been attracted by the belief that their identities will remain concealed and that such activities can be carried out discreetly from home.

However, police warned that promoting, producing or distributing sexual content online is illegal in Sri Lanka, and individuals involved can face prosecution.

A senior officer told the Daily Mirror that although some websites operate from foreign jurisdictions, participation and facilitation from Sri Lanka fall under criminal offenses.

In a recent case illustrating this growing trend, a married couple was arrested by the Nugegoda Divisional Children and Women’s Bureau for recording and uploading obscene videos of themselves to a paid adult website based in England.

Investigations revealed that the husband is a computer engineering graduate from a private university, while the wife holds a diploma in psychology from another private institution. The couple had reportedly turned to producing adult content after both lost their jobs and encountered financial hardship.

The arrest was made on Friday (08) at a three-storey house in Rajagiriya, where the couple had been living on the top floor. The house had been given to the woman as dowry, while her relatives occupied the lower floors. Police officers found that the bedroom, living area, kitchen and furniture shown in the sexually explicit videos matched the interior of the third floor of the residence. A mobile phone used for recording and a laptop used for editing and uploading the videos were seized.

According to police, the couple entered into an agreement with the foreign website in November last year, under which they were required to provide eight videos per month. They had uploaded a total of 334 videos and had been receiving between Rs. 150,000 and Rs. 200,000 monthly, with additional earnings depending on the number of views.

The couple told investigators that they believed their identities would remain undisclosed since the website had not been accessible within Sri Lanka until August this year. Police confirmed that the couple do not have children.

Police said that promoting prostitution or sexual activity through websites and digital platforms is an offense. Individuals involved in producing, uploading, managing, or distributing such content can be charged.

Prostitution and related acts are illegal in Sri Lanka under the Vagrants Ordinance and the Brothels Ordinance. Persons found engaging in or facilitating such activities are liable to arrest and court action.

The suspects were to be produced before the Colombo Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court.