Maldivian among 04 arrested over Mt. Lavinia Child Sex Trafficking Ring

COLOMBO (News 1st); A Maldivian national and three more Sri Lankans were arrested by Sri Lanka Police on Sunday (04) in connection to the Mount Lavinia Child Sex Trafficking Ring.

Police Spokesperson Senior DIG Ajith Rohana speaking to News 1st said the three Sri Lankans are a manager of a hotel who provided a room for the 15-year-old victim to be exploited and two men working for a website on which an advertisement was published to exploit the victim.

On Saturday (03), two suspects were arrested for publishing an advertisement on a website identified as www.lanka.ads.com, and the latest suspects were arrested for publishing an advertisement on www.lanka.adz.com.

In total, 32 suspects were arrested in connection to the Mount Lavinia Child Sex Trafficking Ring and 12 more suspects have been identified for committing statutory rape.

Among those arrested are, the mother of the victim, a three-wheeler driver, a car driver, the individual who designed the advertisement, a gem businessman, a captain of a ship and several crew members, and the Deputy-Chairman of the Mihintale Pradeshiya Sabha, said the Senior DIG Ajith Rohana.

A 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 the 07th of June, by a special team led by Headquarter-Inspector of Mount Lavinia.

The 15-year-old female victim had been exploited for three months and she had been handed over to various people to be exploited.