Anuradhapura Police raided a place where prostitution was taking place, operating under the guise of a friendship club, and arrested four women and its operator in Anuradhapura town. The club that solicits names and addresses through newspaper advertisements for a friendship club, acts as the link between prostitutes and the customers.
Sarathprema told The Island. A civilian had petitioned the Presidential Secretariat that a brothel service was being provided in the centre of Anuradhapura city in the guise of a friendship club.
Pathirana, who had instructed Anuradhapura police to conduct a full scale investigation. Police had deployed several cops to act as decoys and give calls to the club. A prostitute lured by the calls was arrested on Thursday night, and on information received from her, the police had raided the place on Friday 1 and arrested four other women engaged in prostitution and a male who was the coordinator at the time of the raid. Since January 1 this year, the club had provided service to customers, according to the documents found in the office, HQI, Sarathprema said.
A computer, fax machine, mobile phones, over 50 SIM cards used by the brothel service and a list of names who obtained the services of the club had been taken into police custody. The owner of the business is from Matale Junction in Anuradhapura.
The prostitutes were from Anuradhapura town, Galnewa and Eppawela areas. Anuradhapura police is conducting further investigations.
