Economic crisis hits the sex industry - charges of women and men go up

10 October 2022 02:35 pm - 35 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Amidst a severe economic crunch which has left people across the country facing severe hardships, one of the sector's which has also suffered a severe blow is prostitution.

In an undercover story done by Daily Mirror, some women and even men, forced into prostitution to survive the economic crisis and look after their families said that they had turned to sex as this was the only stable income available and charges had increased as the old rates could no longer provide a basic meal to their families.

Some of the packages charged vary from a minimum of Rs.7,500 per hour which include the room decided by the woman or man and other services offered. The charges go up to even Rs.50,000 to Rs.100,000 a night, but this depends on the services offered and the women and men booked.

Some sites adveritising such offers by women and even men, say they are receiving an increasing number of ads by adults who are available for sex especially after the economic crisis.

Before the economic crisis, such services offered by women and men were available for even as low as Rs.2000 per hour, but presently to make ends meet, the charges have risen considerably.

An investigation done by Daily Mirror showed that some sites had over 20 such advertisements within an hour. And the sites kept updating with new adults on offer.

Some ads show services available even outside Colombo including in the other provinces.

The most common places where such activities take place are low end spas. Police said that following tip off's received, such spas are continuously raided and the spa owners and managers are arrested. Some of the men pose as masseurs and offer their services through these spas to high end clients.

Presently, there is no single provision in the Sri Lankan law that women can be charged for prostitution. However the police apply the provisions of the vagrants ordinance and the brothel ordinance.

Recently, Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake acquitting a woman arrested in a brothel on charges of prostitution said it was not considered an offence in Sri Lanka for a woman to earn a living through prostitution but however it was an offence to operate a brothel.

Citing two major superior court judgments (Saibo vs Chellam and Coore vs James Appu), he said, “prostitution is not an offence per se under our law” and that the Vagrants Ordinance and the Brothel Ordinance are the laws that govern prostitution in Sri Lanka.

The Magistrate said, the Vagrants Ordinance only deals with a prostitute when she is behaving in a riotous or disorderly manner in any public street or highway (Sections 2 and 9) while the Brothel Ordinance provides punishment against any person who keeps or manages or acts or assists in the management of a brothel (Section 2).

He said there were no prevailing laws in Sri Lanka since colonial times against a woman who independently engaged in prostitution as a means of earning a living and acquitted the woman who was arrested in the brothel because her act was not recognized as an offence under the Vagrants Ordinance and the Brothel Ordinance.

Considering the possibility that such a woman could be charged for aiding and abetting the management in operating the brothel, the Magistrate said, “a woman, who is kept in a brothel for purpose of consorting with men cannot be charged for assisting in the management of the brothel (Abeykoon vs Kulatunga)”

Comments - 35

Kamal Bolawansa Monday, 10 October 2022 02:57 PM

State Minister Dyana will be highly worried, I suppose. Ha... Ha.... Ha. ...

Atha Katha Somay Monday, 10 October 2022 02:58 PM

Night Bazar Dyana what do you think about this? Are you going to fight for it and reduce the rates?

Kadu Karaya Monday, 10 October 2022 05:21 PM

Usual peanut gallery throwing about. MP Diana is daring to try tourist avenue, but the stuck in mud thinking will resist.

Atha Katha Kokki Dilan Monday, 10 October 2022 03:04 PM

But Dyana Gamage's charges are very reasonable.

Sunil Monday, 10 October 2022 03:04 PM

What a shame

umas Monday, 10 October 2022 03:10 PM

Ministers are having sex inside their super luxuary cars and no problem with the money it is all looted money

Lion Monday, 10 October 2022 03:24 PM

No one can criticize this when your children are crying for food what can parents do ? Can they kill them ,certainly not.

anni Monday, 10 October 2022 03:34 PM

Just make those bloody thing legal and allow those poor souls to earn a living .... illegal prostitution will only give rise to more crime ... legalise it and make it safe for those working in that industry

vigin Hunter Namal- Paksa - Fake lawyer Monday, 10 October 2022 03:50 PM

He pays and his family pay more to the young girls

Jef Monday, 10 October 2022 03:59 PM

One thing police do well is raiding...the innocent who try to earn few bucks to help hard ships top end crooks thives criminal get away due to influences by officials its bloody ruthless when you think the poor have no options sad what have happen to a country that have soomuch to offer no one understand the difficulties families face today

Pay high by Rajapaksa family - virgin hunters Monday, 10 October 2022 04:01 PM

We are the champion on this with our stolen money and influences

Lion Monday, 10 October 2022 04:01 PM

Boys in diyawannawa have enough and more money to indulge in the activity while jeena madam’s friend who left us recently may be crying in his grave weeping ,that he couldn’t be there in a situation like this.

Four legged frog Monday, 10 October 2022 04:09 PM

As per Law of Demand and Supply, with more supply, prices comes down. Here the prices go up, while the supply is more, including substitute men. This just defies the logic. Whatever you pay and do, you end up like a four legged FROG on the bed! Anni! As for your suggestion, yes. The law has to bend down, to meet the crisis in town now.

Adwani Monday, 10 October 2022 04:15 PM

But I was charged for chewing arecanuts without betel by the police and the magistrate fined me Rs.10,000/-. Well anyway this magistrate is no longer interested in personal affairs of individual.

Kirsten Andersen, Denmark Monday, 10 October 2022 04:19 PM

Hypocrite comments. In 2017 my then 14 years! old daughter got harassed in the crowd right in front of the toothrelic. She also got dirty remarks on the street and men were taking pictures of her without permission. I am sure other blonde girls experience the same. And yes, she had covered herself, only wore long decent dresses.

A-Customer Monday, 10 October 2022 05:15 PM

The government should grow up. Make prostitution fully legal. In NEW ZEALAND, HOLLAND and several countries in the world. P is LEGAL.

Diana Monday, 10 October 2022 06:34 PM

Some are talking about making Prostitution legal. They don't realise that more hospital wards will have to be built to treat Sexual Diseases ?

Ronnie Tuesday, 11 October 2022 08:39 AM

There will be more commis. Business will certainly grow.

Punchi Monday, 10 October 2022 06:41 PM

My father said to me that he read in our newspaper that when a nonaligned country meeting was held in our paradise an overseas delegate was inquiring on soliciting nocturnal company and was told that we are a Buddhist country and such services are unavailable. So now it looks like we have made considerable progress in at least one area of our society

Harrold Monday, 10 October 2022 06:57 PM

This is not a case to sling mud on Diana Gamage. Majority of Sri Lankans are such narrow minded people and they should be ashamed of themselves. Women and men both have been dragged down to the depths of poverty to take up prostitution to earn a living, and the government has a responsibility to do something to ease the burden of the people before it's too late. No amount of mere talks will not bring relief to the poor.

Awaiting solution Monday, 10 October 2022 07:18 PM

Probably our Diana can find a solution for this crisis.

Eranda T Monday, 10 October 2022 08:26 PM

The charges should have come down due to competition, as more people are offering services to their clients.

Mohan Monday, 10 October 2022 09:48 PM

It is better to be a beggar than earn through prostitution. It should never be legalized.

Female Tuesday, 11 October 2022 12:48 AM

To Kirsten from Denmark: in Sri Lanka the most searched word at Google is sex. There are a lot of frustrated and sexist men here and I am sorry your young daughter had such bad experience in our most holy temple.

Female Tuesday, 11 October 2022 01:00 AM

You are right Kirsten from Denmark: there are a lot of frustrated men in Sri Lanka. Just look at the number of hits above this article, hahaha;-)

L Jaya Tuesday, 11 October 2022 03:16 AM

What a pathetic situation. Majority of politics are responsible for the current state of affairs. It appears to me that Sri Lanka is heading to a state of anarchy. There is no management or governance, only thuggery by government. Sick of hearing repeated assurances, promises and reforms without any action. God Bless Sri Lanka

Mohamed Adham Tuesday, 11 October 2022 06:41 AM

Big time prostitution and Brothels are always exempted by our wonderful "Police" only the small timers are hunted down and arrested, as usual.

Seqi Tuesday, 11 October 2022 08:08 AM

It is better to earn through prostitution than be a beggar. Legalize prostitution. It is at least a well documented profession.

Sokrates Tuesday, 11 October 2022 08:21 AM

Continuously raided means continuously comming for to take bribes or free services.

Mahila Wednesday, 12 October 2022 03:02 AM

Providing FREE services is also BRIBE

Terrence Tuesday, 11 October 2022 08:30 AM

Many preach to eschew certain wrong things not knowing what circumstances these poor souls are experiencing in the present crisis because they are quite comfortable in their livelihoods enjoying the best and practicing the opposite

Lanka Shantha Tuesday, 11 October 2022 09:41 AM

nice. This News article will promote the Business among the men and women who don't know the real value for their body services.

Make love not war Tuesday, 11 October 2022 11:09 AM

With the cost of livig skyrocketing daily people have no other alternative than to engage in prostitution to make ends meet. Fridays being declared a public holiday by the government recently for people to grow more vegetables instead it should be called sex day so that people will have more time to devote for sex and earn a fast buck which will help to ease the burden on many families who find it difficult to cope with the current cost of living. They say make love not war

Badu Tuesday, 11 October 2022 04:08 PM

in fact Diana will be happy because court relaxes laws and the supply will increase and the rate will drop. God save SL !

annecunt Tuesday, 11 October 2022 04:49 PM

Mainly monks and cleargy come to us wearing police uniforms to get special favours. we open wide anyway

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Economic crisis hits the sex industry - charges of women and men go up

Comments - 35

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