On the 20th of November , a section of the media reported that Mr. Ajith Prasanna, a member of the Southern Provincial Council, from the ruling alliance UPFA , called for the legalization of sex-work prostitution to boost tourism in the country.
While sex work as such is not criminalised in Sri Lanka, soliciting sex in public and maintaining of brothels are illegal. If Mr. Yet measures such as legalization or decriminalization of sex-work have to be motivated by the aim of protecting the rights and security of women in sex work and enabling them to safeguard their own interests. Legalization driven by concerns such as boosting tourism or generating foreign exchange earnings are not only misguided but also fraught with the risk of jeopardizing the rights of those engaged in sex-work.
We therefore strongly disagree with the instrumental approach to legalization of sex-work advocated by Mr. While informed debate and disagreement are inevitable and to be welcomed on such a complex issue, intimidating or threatening people into silence because their opinions are contrary to the dominant point of view is unacceptable in a democracy.
We decry efforts of some individuals and organisations to invoke religion and culture to condemn Sharmila, thus potentially inciting extra-legal action against her.
We also call on all community leaders, in particular from within the Muslim community, to take measures to ensure that Sharmila and her family are not the subject of any further threats or intimidation.
