More men turning to sex industry

8 March 2023 12:37 am - 31 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The economic crisis in Sri Lanka has left many hanging dry. From job cuts to facing a high cost of living to feed children less, the crisis has hit almost all households across the island with the heaviest brunt on low-income families.

The youth today are also in search of suitable employment to meet their costs. While many wait eagerly to leave the shores for greener pastures, there are those who prefer to remain here to feed themselves and their families.

The latest survival method which some families turn to, to earn a living is sex. While more females are turning to prostitution to survive, young men between the ages of 20 to 40 are also turning to this trade in order to earn a living.

According to those in the industry, within the past recent months since Sri Lanka's economic crisis took a turn for the worse, more men have registered on websites offering the services of 'male escorts'. Some of these sites are quite popular for the services provided and are operating from overseas offering a wide range of men for sexual purposes from different countries.

When searching under the column of 'Sri Lanka' in these sites, the men listed are between the ages of 20 to 40 years and the charges vary according to the services provided. Almost all the male escorts charge in US dollars per hour which ranges from US 20 dollars to US 50 dollars while services for a full night ranges from US 100 dollars to US 500 dollars.

The websites give a brief introduction of the escort, along with their age and a contact number and a picture can also be requested upon request if a male is selected by a client. All monetary transactions are done by hand only and can be paid in Sri Lankan rupees according to the present exchange rate.

Some of the services provided also include massages and all websites have stressed on confidentiality between the client and the escort.

The Daily Mirror spoke to one male escort under conditions of anonymity who was from Kottawa aged 22 years old and said he was compelled to turn to this trade due to unemployment and the burdens of a high cost of living. He said there was a demand for male escorts especially among the high society in Colombo who often requested for services in parties and informal gatherings.

There was a rising demand from couples as well.

This male escort charged Rs.15,000 an hour and said a full night of service ranged from Rs.50,000 onwards for VIPs.

He said the money was quickly earned and he could provide for his family. And he had bookings almost every week.

Police officials told Daily Mirror that the operation of websites providing sex services by men or women was illegal but this trade could not be easily identified as there was no legal cash exchanged. It was also consensual sex.

Police sources said that unless a complaint was lodged against a specific incident, they were unable to investigate and find out more details.

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Comments - 31

Johan Wednesday, 08 March 2023 01:20 AM

It is really pity.. It is all due MR and all other politician.

Be Fair Wednesday, 08 March 2023 04:37 AM

And all this in a country of a proud history of 2500 years. Why not we all get out of this cocoon mentality, be realistic and progress

Punchi Wednesday, 08 March 2023 06:31 AM

This is further evidence of the superiority of our Sanga ruled Buddhist paradise. While our mothers, sisters and daughters are providing dharma services in the Middle East and in Serangon Road Singapore and our fathers, brothers and sons is providing similar dharma services in our country.

Already happened in Thailand like this Wednesday, 08 March 2023 04:49 PM

Thailand is also same type of our Bhuddism, unlike Burma which while the same has a better culture. And in Thailand there are a lot of lady-boys, and seems like it'll be the same here.

Adwani Wednesday, 08 March 2023 06:57 AM

"Police sources said that unless a complaint was lodged against a specific incident, they were unable to investigate and find out more details" Since no complaint is made the Police are still awaiting to investigate Lasantha's murder.

Peter Wednesday, 08 March 2023 06:58 AM

It is a crying shame that Sri lankans have to turn to this way of life to survive all because of sleazy politicians who are corrupt to the core.

Viky suberlingam Wednesday, 08 March 2023 07:39 AM

Where can I register site name

Vive James Wednesday, 08 March 2023 07:54 AM

Singhala only with reasonable use of English is enough

Shunmugam Wednesday, 08 March 2023 08:00 AM

Are we ending up like Thailand or Philippines , where most women are involved in prostitution. When a country base their economy in services it could provide to foreigners like places to see and nice hotels to stay then inevitably when the economy is down “knickers easily fall down”. If Jaffna Hindu Vellala Tamils had ruled the country we would have gone industrialised decades ago and tourism would have been a minor part of the economy.

Tissa Fernando Wednesday, 08 March 2023 08:18 AM

Public money is robbed by politicians and officials. Their wives and daughters spend the money on male escorts while the officials and politicians spend their money on female escorts. So the stolen money comes back to low income people.

Leo Wednesday, 08 March 2023 08:29 AM

What compliant. Rubbish while the authors of this crisis live lavishly. Where are the war hero Rajpakses, put your services on these websites, we all want to poke it in you.

Ranjan Wednesday, 08 March 2023 08:37 AM

We never heard these things during our young age. This is a sad situation. The politicians who are ruling and ruled in the past are wholly responsible for this. Oh dear motherland what's happening to you. Someone who is genuine should come forward and accept the country in order to eradicate these corruptions.

Thomas Dharmachandra Wednesday, 08 March 2023 08:41 AM

Promoting tourism through sex and massages

Shera Wednesday, 08 March 2023 08:46 AM

This is a lame excuse to live a immoral life. You don't need to make fifteen thousand a hour or fifty thousand a day if you really wanted to feed your family and pay your bills while keeping your self respect. I grew up poor and my parents, siblings or I didn't resort to prostitution. We lived with what we had and worked dignified jobs even with small wages until things got better. The woke culture has hit Lanka and even the media tries to evoke sympathy by stating this behavior is an economic consequence.

sacre blieu Wednesday, 08 March 2023 08:55 AM

Our society has drifted during the recent regimes due to macabre influence of the deteriorating practices and habits. Even the governments have also entertained such social diseases due to some members having an appetite for such decadent tastes.

sanjeewa Wednesday, 08 March 2023 09:45 AM

News item is an interesting guide to beginners who are thinking of ways of entering into the market?

Rajapaksa Wednesday, 08 March 2023 10:40 AM

These activities are supposed to be illegal but how can anybody stop these as people have to survive. Do you expect all mothers and fathers who can't feed their growing children to jump into wells or rivers or hang themselves ?

Rob Wednesday, 08 March 2023 11:29 AM

Once call the pearl of the Indian ocean now ruined by politicians and religious activis now the two deadliest have created today human beings are suffering with no options to feed them and the families sex prostitution suicide robbery shootings become normal country in bankruptcy no proper financial back-up for those who are in extreme danger basic essentials families can't effort if no genuine help given to those who are in suffering the magority of the middle-class and the poor by government or forigen partners things will become worse. Hope someone out thire will find a solution for innocent people that are badly off...

VJ Wednesday, 08 March 2023 11:34 AM

This is not new to Sri Lanka, it was known as The Beach Boys. A lot of tourists from Europe arrive in the country specifically for these services. A tourist attraction. Even the famous Arther C Clarke used these services.

Disgusted Wednesday, 08 March 2023 11:50 AM

May the curses of the people follow the rajapakses for the next 100 generations to come.

Punchi Wednesday, 08 March 2023 11:56 AM

Our women folk are selling their services in the Middle East, Serangon Road Singapore and in our paradise. Our men doing same in our paradise. Gender equality?

Karalasingam Sivalingam Wednesday, 08 March 2023 12:00 PM

This is animal behaviour, we are like Philippine and Thailand. Our religious belief and culture eroding, sadm

Bryan Ekenaike Wednesday, 08 March 2023 12:20 PM

Hey all and sundry I was told that SL has joined the international bandwagon with WOMENS DAY . Ha Ha What a joke and here we have 'prostitution galore'. So what are we celebrating ??

Jega Wednesday, 08 March 2023 01:15 PM

Who is this mad fellow Shanmugam? Is he insane? Is he trying to resurrect the dead caste system in Jaffna? Is he thinking the Sinhalese, Muslims, Burgers and Tamils belonging to other caste are fools? Please check before publishing this type of comments from insane fellows. Please bar him from posting any more comments. He is a disgrace to the whole humanity.

Aram Wednesday, 08 March 2023 02:28 PM

No,he is correct,jaffna high caste people only joined government services because of education they received. They strictly followed rules and regulations while serving communities. That is the reason British recruited to the service on intelligences. Definitely,SL would have gone up like Singapore. Shanmugam a sane man

Gamini F Wednesday, 08 March 2023 02:43 PM

The results of leaving the country in the genocidal bad karma Rajapaksha's.

R T Wednesday, 08 March 2023 02:55 PM

@ Jega, the point Shunmugam making about failure to industrialise this country is absolutely right. We should never base our income on tourists. Regarding caste, it is there in every country and in every ethnic community, even in the Sinhalese community.

DW Wednesday, 08 March 2023 02:57 PM

This is nothing new. All those things took place over 2500 years ago during buddha's period. According to historians it was actually worse.

wathsi Wednesday, 08 March 2023 04:32 PM

Most of the commentators here seems to be jealously of that men who engage in the business. By the way, 'the poor-economy-put-me-into-this-trade' was an age old excuse for those who seek easy money.

sam Wednesday, 08 March 2023 05:02 PM

What has happened to our beautiful country and culture?

PD Wednesday, 08 March 2023 08:24 PM

Absolutely nothing wrong with this - its individual's decision. All the judgmental comments in this article show the actual decline of this society. Buddhism = mindfulness. Mindfulness = non-judgmentally observing things as they are happening in present moment.

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More men turning to sex industry

Comments - 31

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