News

News

Lack of linguists hampers foreign flesh trade crackdown
By Chris Kamalendran
Lack of foreign language translators is hampering a Police crackdown on a growing number of foreign prostitutes especially in Colombo, the officer-in-charge of the operation said.

Director, Crimes Division SSP Sarath Lugoda complained his men were unable to even record statements from these women who had arrived on short-term tourist visas.

The women, mainly from Thailand, Russia, Ukraine and China claim they don't understand or speak English, he said. The Police who sought assistance from the respective missions in Colombo, were told translators could no be provided to assist in Police matters, SSP Lugoda said.

Once produced in courts, the women’s local agents use the lack of English knowledge of the women to get them released on bail. "The next time the case is taken up for hearing, they do not turn up in courts ", he said.

He said police were aware that many of these women arrive on tourist visas and return to their country only to come back again but go undetected by changing the colour of their hair, getting new hairstyles, etc. He also said foreign prostitutes have spread their operations to the provinces. During the recent National New Year season in Nuwara Eliya, several ' mobile' operations were run there by these women.

SSP Nuwara Eliya Mahes Samaradivakara said that during the festive season, Police had to give more attention to guarding VIPs as well as monitoring crowds. Lack of a tracking system of these foreign women has enabled the vice ring operators to run circles round the Police.

Top

Back to News