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21 arrested in teen girl exploitation case

02 Jul 2021

  • Children & Women’s Bureau continue probe

  • Mihintale Pradeshiya Sabha Department Chairman among 21

By Dinitha Rathnayake   A total of 21 suspects have been arrested so far in respect of the procuring and sexual trafficking of a 15-year-old girl in Mount Lavinia, and the Police Children and Women Bureau is conducting further investigations into the case. Among those arrested are the mother of the victim, another woman, a three-wheeler driver, a car driver, the individual who designed the advertisement, the Mihintale Pradeshiya Sabha Deputy Chairman, and a businessman, according to the Police Media Spokesman Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) of Police Ajith Rohana. Further, information has come to light about many other suspects involved in the crime, he said. The 15-year-old girl was sexually exploited by an individual in Mount Lavinia via social media outlets and the main suspect in connection with the incident was arrested on 7 June by a special team led by the Headquarters Inspector of Police of Mount Lavinia. SDIG Rohana said that upon conducting further investigations, it was revealed that the girl was sexually trafficked online through special websites and social media pages. Thereafter, the investigation was taken over by the Children and Women’s Bureau of Colombo. The 15-year-old female victim had been exploited for three months, during which period she had been handed over to various people to be exploited. “According to the provisions of the Penal Code (Amendment) Act, No. 22 of 1995, procuring is an offence. Therefore, those arrested in connection with the incident will be charged under the relevant sections of the Penal Code,” SDIG Rohana explained. As per the instructions of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Children and Women’s Bureau of Colombo is conducting further investigations.  


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