• Broad demography of people turning to sex work to get by
• 30% increase in women joining industry in Colombo since January
• Influx of inexperienced workers can lead to less use of safe sex practices
• Concerns about a possible spike in STD transmission
• Synthetic drug use among sex workers increasing

By Maneesha Dullewe Sri Lanka’s economic crisis risks driving more vulnerable people towards sex work, with a 30% increase observed in Colombo since January by advocacy groups. The increase in numbers involved in prostitution in turn may lead to an increase in the transmission of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) due to unsafe practices.  According to Sri Lanka’s National STD/AIDS Control Programme, 4,556 HIV patients were recorded in the first quarter of 2022, while 4,686 were identified in the second quarter. The numbers for 2021 for the first and second quarters stood at 4,073 and 4,142, respectively.  There has been a 30% increase in women joining the sex industry in Colombo since January, according to Standup Movement Lanka (SUML) – an advocacy group for sex workers. Reports have also noted that many women in the textile industries who lost their jobs have now been forced to become sex workers to earn a livelihood.    Noticeable increase in sex workers   Community Strength Development Foundation (CSDF) Executive Director H.A. Lakshman, whose organisation works with sex workers for HIV prevention, noted that their staff in the field had witnessed a noticeable increase in sex workers after 2019, with the economic upheavals of 2020 and 2021. “During our work in the field, we can clearly see that during a given month, a majority of the sex workers we meet are those who have newly joined the field.”  Significantly, he noted that even housewives were engaging in sex work due to the current economic crisis. “For instance, housewives who are unable to meet their family expenses have joined the profession of sex work. It is not that they wish to properly engage in the profession, but rather, their intention is to make enough for their daily survival.” Lakshman shared that these new sex workers were not limited to poverty-stricken families, although they made up the majority of them. According to him, more segments of society were entering the profession, such as those who had been self-employed or household workers, since these women no longer have continuous work under the present economic conditions. “These women are compelled to do sex work in order to cover their shortfall in income,” Lakshman explained.   SUML Executive Director Ashila Dandeniya too noted that with the loss of employment in the economic zones and the decline in salaries, there had been reports of such individuals turning to sex work in increased numbers.    Increased challenges in sex work    Moreover, those engaged in sex work face further issues due to the expansion of the workforce. Dandeniya noted that sex workers were now faced with a collapse in demand and bargaining power because of the new workers who had entered the profession.  Additionally, costs for the rooms they use to provide their services have risen, leading to issues with clients. Accordingly, these workers were facing a significant drop in income from sex work, Dandeniya shared.  She emphasised that those engaged in the informal sector were more likely to turn to sex work, even within the garment sector. “Within the garment sector, those working informally under the manpower category have a greater tendency to engage in sex work since they are the ones who are finding it most difficult at present.”  National STD/AIDS Control Programme Coordinator and Consultant Venereologist Dr. Geethani Samaraweera told The Sunday Morning that while they lacked precise numbers at the moment, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) working with sex workers had reported an increase in the number of sex workers.  She also noted that massage parlours were now offering sex in addition to massages, making for a dangerous situation.  Moreover, the influx of new sex workers into the industry also poses a risk given their lack of experience and desperation owing to the present circumstances.   “Generally, in Sri Lanka sex workers are very good at using condoms – their condom usage is more than 90%, with HIV prevalence being very low among sex workers up to now, so they were well-protected,” Dr. Samaraweera said. However, with the present upheavals, the situation on the ground was likely to have undergone a transformation, Dr. Samaraweera said. “Most of the new people who enter the sex industry have less experience and they don’t know how to negotiate condoms with their clients. Moreover, they are desperate to earn money due to their economic hardships or they may want to go back with some money to feed their children. When they’re really desperate, people might pay more money to have condom-less sex.” Accordingly, if sex workers are not using condoms, the possibility that they might get infected with STDs or HIV is higher.  Lakshman also said that the influx of new workers meant that they no longer frequented the ‘hot spots’ which organisations such as the CSDF used to connect with sex workers in order to provide welfare and assistance. This meant that awareness of health and reproductive issues, HIV-related services, provision of condoms, and other assistance were not provided to them through such organisations.   Dr. Samaraweera further revealed that they had unofficial data that drug use, especially of ice (crystal methamphetamine), was becoming popular among sex workers.  “When they use drugs, they are unlikely to adhere to condom use and reduced condom use will put them at risk. Generally, it is the males who engage in drug use in Sri Lanka, but if this changes and the female sex workers start using drugs, then this will have an effect on their condom use as their ability to adhere to protective measures will drop.”       Focus should be on same sex behaviour   While acknowledging that they lacked the statistics at present to definitively say that HIV among sex workers had increased, the HIV prevalance among sex workers was less than 1% as per the last survey conducted, Dr. Samaraweera revealed.  Accordingly, despite the lack of official data, she noted that “there is a possibility” that HIV had increased among sex workers. “Before the numbers actually increase, it is better for us to be aware and take the necessary steps,” she said, noting that the reported number of HIV cases in general had increased for 2022, compared to the previous year.  Accordingly, the National STD/AIDS Control Programme HIV/AIDS Surveillance Data reveals a total of 410 HIV patients diagnosed for the entire year in 2021. Meanwhile, 429 HIV patients have been diagnosed as of the third quarter of 2022, Dr. Samaraweera shared, noting: “We are seeing high numbers and the majority are male.” Accordingly, she emphasised that focus should be on same sex behaviour since a majority of patients followed male-to-male sex. The number of infected males had increased, with the male to female ratio being 4.1:1 in 2021 and 7:1 in 2022.  “It is a male-dominated epidemic rather than a sex work-dominated one at the moment,” she said, adding that however, the situation could change at any moment and therefore required constant vigilance.  While she did not attribute the rise in HIV cases solely to the ongoing crisis situation in Sri Lanka – given that it could be due to several reasons such as increased testing and the lower-than-expected testing during the Covid-19-period – she did not rule out the possibility of actual numbers rising, since syphilis and gonorrhoea cases too had increased compared to the previous year.  Ministry response  Meanwhile, addressing the issue, Women and Child Affairs State Minister Geetha Kumarasinghe shared with The Sunday Morning that despite there being no official statistics on the exact numbers, there were reports of more women joining the sex trade, especially in the Katunayake area and in connection with the tourism industry. However, she noted that there were no specific measures underway to assist such women through the Ministry itself.   “When people face greater privation and economic issues, and have no other options, women can be compelled to turn to such activities,” she noted. She further added that such things could not be controlled by the Government as they were social issues and that these incidents would inevitably occur with growing poverty.