BY Ruwani Fonseka & Kavitha Makumbura 

Promoting prostitution through websites is illegal, and the promoter will be produced upon the Court, said Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa.

He made this statement while speaking to The Morning today (04).

He noted that Prostitution, generally, is an illegal act in Sri Lanka and those who engage in it would be arrested and produced at Court according to the Vagrants Ordinance and Brothels Ordinance.

"Engaging in prostitution inside brothels or loitering along main roads and streets behaving inappropriately or in a sexually provoking manner is considered offences according to the Vagrants Ordinance," said Thalduwa

Thalduwa also stated that keeping and managing brothels is also considered illegal and brothel owners and those working in brothels can be arrested under the Brothel Ordinance in Sri Lanka.

"The Vagrants Ordianance (1842) is very old and therefore the penalty fee is very low, however, both male and female prostitutes will be charged equally," Thalduwa noted.

He equally emphasised that Trans- Gender individuals can be arrested under the law in Sri Lanka as sex change is still considered 'illegal' in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, The Morning contacted Ravi Kumudesh, President at The Association of Health Professionals, who stated that prostitution is on the rise in Sri Lanka mainly due to the economic crisis in the country and people looking to feed their families.

"The sex trade is on the rise mainly as people are now looking for means to feed their families. Prostitution is the oldest profession in the world and is now something faced in Sri Lanka. Prostitutes face major health risks of sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS/HIV and when this happens, Sri Lanka will have to face another major health problem," said Kumudesh.