Women rescued from sex trafficking ring

Five Indonesian women, victims of an illegal sex trafficking ring, were taken into police custody after a brothel was raided in Mount Lavinia today.

The victims of the sex trafficking ring were brought to Sri Lanka promising jobs in star class international hotels.

However, once the women arrived in the country, their passports were confiscated and they were forced to do sex work in brothel houses located in Dehiwala and Mount Lavinia.

One brothel house was a mere 50 metres away from the Dehiwala Police Station. The women were presented before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate this afternoon.

However, the Police were charging the victims under the Brothels Ordinance although they are the victims of sex trafficking.

No charges were brought by the Police against the management of the brothel or the Residence visa sponsors.

Several Sri Lankan judgments have held that sex work is not illegal in Sri Lanka. Only the managing of a brothel is illegal.

The women have also not been given adequate protection by the State for being victims of an international sex trafficking ring despite the Protection of Victims of Crimes and Witnesses Act.

Sex trafficking is a crime in Sri Lanka. Section 360C of the Penal Code criminalises trafficking with up to 20 years imprisonment. The women were released on bail Saturday afternoon.

The Magistrate has ordered the police to investigate the sex trafficking and took the passports of the victims into the custody of the Court, to ensure their safety.