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Bulk of sex workers shut out from Samurdhi for refusal of sexual favours

Published

3 years ago

2023/05/19

Seventy seven percent of Sri Lankan sex workers have never applied for the government Samurdhi benefit, primarily due to a combination of lack of necessary documentation and social discrimination against them, a report ‘Status of Sex Workers in Sri Lanka 20233 – 2023’ said.

This study was carried out by several groups including the Social Scientists Association (SSA).The report said that among the small number who did apply and were denied Samurdhi, 56 percent stated it was because they did not perform sexual favours. This practice of sexual bribery is normalised by different state officials, including Police to Samurdhi officers, the report has said.

“25 percent were denied Samurdhi as they did not have access to a permanent address while 15 percent said they did not have other requisite documentation. Three percent were denied it as they did not have a marriage certificate either because they chose not to get married or had not registered their marriage,” the report said.

It said that 66 percent of the workers who have visited the government Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)

clinics reported that they faced some form of verbal abuse. 66 percent reported that such verbal abuse included comments of their ‘character’, i.e. implying that they are immoral, sinful and ‘bad’ women.

“35 percent received suggestions from STI clinic staff that they engage in alternative professions based on the assumption that this profession is inherently bad and/or sinful. 83 percent of the workers said that they have never received contraceptives from the public health midwife and 76 percent of the workers said that a public health midwife has never visited their home. While 80% of the female workers had visited the government STI clinic, only 35 percent of cis-gendered women workers have visited the ‘Suwa Nari – Women’s wellness clinic’ at the government hospital that focuses on overall wellbeing. 91 percent said that they always use condoms, and of the small number who said they have not worn condoms at work, 70 percent said it was because clients refused to wear a condom,” the report read.

The study also found that out of 88 percent who attended school 18 percent have completed their Ordinary Level and only 6 percent have completed Advanced Level. 14 percent have dropped out of school in the 5th grade or below.

The study also found that 60 percent of the workers are sole earning members of their family and 73 percent are the highest earning or primary earning member of their family. 69 percent of workers showed that they have three or more dependents in the family. 72 percent said sex work is a job that they do which feeds their family when they were asked how they feel about their job.

“It is in this context that 45 percent of workers said their work is never safe while 23 percent say it is mostly unsafe. 66 percent stated that clients are responsible for them feeling unsafe, followed by 20 percent each citing hotel owners and law enforcement as responsible for them feeling unsafe,” the report said. 283 sex workers took part in the survey.

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Govt. extends ban on LTTE

Published

3 hours ago

2026/01/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

The NPP government has issued a new extraordinary gazette renewing and extending Sri Lanka’s long-standing ban on the LTTE and several Tamil diaspora organisations and individuals, continuing to designate them as “terrorists”.

The gazette, published recently, replaces a previous gazette issued in May 2025 and reaffirmed the proscription of a wide range of Tamil political and advocacy bodies operating around the world, alongside dozens of named individuals. The government alleged both the organisations and individuals listed are involved in “terrorism-related activities”.

The organisations blacklisted by the Sri Lankan government include:

• Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

• Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO)

• Tamil Coordinating Committee (TCC)

• World Tamil Movement (WTM)

• Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE)

• World Tamil Relief Fund (WTRF)

• National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT)

• Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO)

While the majority of the designations mirror those contained in the May 2025 gazette, the latest document updates identification details and addresses for a number of individuals and introduces at least one additional organisation to the list. All entries have been reissued under new reference numbers for 2026, though the underlying allegations and framing remain unchanged.

Successive governemnts have maintained a sweeping proscription regime against Tamil diaspora groups and individuals. A ban can make it a criminal offence for Sri Lankan citizens to maintain contact with these organisations or their members, severely restricting political engagement and stifling links between the diaspora and the Tamil homeland.

The original mass listings were introduced in 2014 under the administration of Mahinda Rajapaksa. Despite repeated outcry, subsequent governments have continued to uphold and renew the proscription regime, even after the Rajapaksas were voted out of power.

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Police obtain court order banning Wimal’s protest

Published

3 hours ago

2026/01/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa addresses a gathering outside the Education Ministry on Monday before launching a protest demanding the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya as Education Minister over the inclusion of a link to an adult content website in the Grade 06 English module. (Pic by Thushara Atapattu)

Police yesterday (12) obtained an injunction order from the Kaduwela Magistrate’s court against the protest launched by National Freedom Front (NFF) leader and former Minister Wimal Weerawansa opposite the Education Ministry, Isurupaya, at Battaramulla.

Police informed Weerawansa of the court order. In line with the court order, the police informed Weerawansa that the road near the Ministry should not be obstructed and that no sound amplification equipment be used while the GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examination is in progress. The examination, put off due to Cyclone Ditwah, recommenced yesterday.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expresses optimism that Sri Lanka is on the right path to progres

Published

3 hours ago

2026/01/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

FM Herath with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath held productive discussions with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi today (12/01), during the latter’s brief visit to Sri Lanka.

The meeting aimed at further strengthening bilateral engagement and advancing the Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries. Both Ministers reaffirmed the longstanding friendship and time-tested cooperation between Sri Lanka and China rooted in centuries of exchanges and consolidated since the establishment of diplomatic relations seven decades ago. The discussion also focused on enhancing partnership in the areas of trade, investment, development cooperation and tourism.

Minister Herath extended deep appreciation to the Government and the people of China for the steadfast support extended to Sri Lanka following cyclone Ditwah and requested further support for the second phase of resettlement, relocation and rebuilding, particularly for the restoration of affected infrastructure including identified roads, railways and bridges that are vital to connectivity, economic recovery and daily lives of people. Minister Wang assured China’s fullest support for this initiative and expressed confidence that Sri Lanka will continue its rapid recovery under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Disanayaka. He also welcomed the people-centric policies of the Government and expressed optimism that Sri Lanka is on the right path toward fulfilling aspirations of its people.

Minister Herath expressed appreciation for China’s constructive role in international fora and reiterated Sri Lanka’s firm commitment to the One China Policy and China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Both Ministers also recalled the successful high level exchanges in the recent past, including visits of the President and the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to China in 2025.