Four websites that promoted sex trafficking banned

By Norman Palihawadane

Four websites promoting a sex trafficking ring in Mount Lavinia had been banned on a court order, police spokesman Senior DIG Ajith Rohana said yesterday.

 Snr DIG Rohana said that the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission had been ordered to suspend the operations of www. land ads.com, www.nastylanka.com, www.redroselanka.com and messagerepeublic.com.

Investigations have revealed that a 15-year-old girl was supplied for sex through those four websites. The court order was issued in response to a request by the Police Children and Women Bureau, the SDIG disclosed.

 Police have identified the perpetrators who posted several advertisements online and sold the victim for three months. Over 40 persons have been taken into custody in connection to the case so far.

 One of the suspects arrested in the case is former Maldivian State Minister for Finance, Mohamed Ashmalee.  Others arrested in the case include the mother of the victim, a Sri Lankan politician, owners of the four websites that published the advertisement, vehicle drivers, a captain and the crew of a ship, a gem merchant, the manager of the hotel used by the perpetrators to rape the girl, a cardiologist of a well-known hospital, a surgeon of the Sri Lanka Navy, a former bank manager, and a police officer.

Investigations have revealed that the suspect had rented an apartment in Mount Lavinia to conduct his illegal operation.