Mihinthale PS Deputy Chairman arrested in Child Sex Trafficking Ring

COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka Police arrested three more suspects including the Deputy-Chairman of the Mihintale Pradeshiya Sabha on Wednesday night (Jun. 30), in connection with the case of procuration and sexual trafficking of a 15-year-old girl in Mount Lavina. "The Deputy-Chairman of the Mihintale Pradeshiya Sabha is being brought to Colombo for further investigations; the three suspects will be produced at the Hulftsdorp Magistrate's Court," Police Spokesperson Senior DIG Ajith Rohana told News 1st on Thursday (Jul. 01). It was reported that a 15-year-old girl was exploited by an individual in Mount Lavinia for sexual trafficking via social media outlets, and the main suspect in connection with the incident was arrested on the 07th of June, by a special team led by Headquarter-Inspector of Mount Lavinia. According to Senior DIG Ajith Rohana, so far, 21 suspects in total were arrested in respect of the offence committed against the 15-year-old; among those arrested are, the mother of the victim as well. Based on investigations, it was revealed that the girl was sexually trafficked online through special websites and social media pages, where she was exploited for 03-months by various people. "In terms of the provisions of the Penal Code amendments in 1995 and 2006, procuration and human trafficking are offences under the Sri Lankan Law. Therefore, the suspects would be dealt with under the respective provisions of the Penal Code amendments of 1995 and 2006," Senior DIG Ajith Rohana stressed. As per the instructions of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Children and Women's Bureau of Colombo is conducting further investigations.