By Thalawathugoda- Thalangama may be the sub urbun are where most Spas operate , within a five mile are which covers thalangama Koswaththa , Batharamulla, and Nugegoda there are more than one hundred SPA ‘s operating.
The Police has started a crack down on Spa’s and more than 50 SPA ’s in the Negambo area have been raided and two women who have been arrested have been identified HIV positive.
An island wide raid in on and more than 150 SPA’s have been raided in other areas.
Threat to Livelihood
Lanka News Line spoke to a SPA owner in Tahalawathugoda who said that the SPA therapist are worried about two of their colleagues have been identified with HIV but their main concern is the threat to their lively hood.
“These raids on SPA’s are arbitrary, for instance we don’t encourage prostitution but we could be raided in humiliating manner any time.”
It has been ruled in court that prostitution is not illegal in Sri Lanka and most raids are carried out on SPA’S ina arbitrary manner. I most case the women have been charged under wagrants audience of 1841
Humiliation
A female SPA worker from Thalawathugoda said that “ It is time we got organized to defend ourselves and our lively hoods and save ourselves from humiliation”
The police usually invite the television media to SPA raids hand show the arrested women who are mere suspects in a humiliating manner violating their rights.
SPA raids and incidents of sexually transmitted disease will not bring a end and criminalising prostitution will only make things worse said oshala weerasinha a social activist who has been lobbying for marginalised women’s rights.
The Presidential Secretariat has been considering a proposal to regularize SPA ‘s to introduce a regulatory mechanism for spas around the country by the end of this year, a top state official said.
“Spas are mushrooming all over with just a business registration and no regulatory body. They carry on illegal activities, have staff without qualifications in spa therapy, and continue with provocative advertisements. Their activities are a health and hygiene concern. This has become a menace to qualified spa-therapy-offering places,” Said a official of the presidential secateriat some time ago but since then nothing much has happened. Instead arbitrary raids are taking place claim Spa owners who pay approximately a annual fee of LKR 50,000 for licence.
Drug Hotspot’s
Sri Lanka Spa Association President Prasanna Munasinghe said that with unscrupulous activities taking place, there were more police raids. The spa industry is currently tarnished, with spas being called brothels and drug hotspots,” he said.
It is estimated that about 600,000 are directly and indirectly employed in the spa industry. It seems that the SPA industry is something that is going to stay and haphazard raids are not a solution to the problem said ,Oshala Weerasinha.
A Big Force
However the police point out that most SPA’s violate licensing conditions by not having a registered Ayurvedic practitioner and use it as cover for prostitution.
A number of Sociological studies have pointed out that as the age of marriage has increased that there is a high level of frustration among Sri Lankan youth.
He said about 600,000 are directly and indirectly employed in the spa industry.
There are plans to make it compulsory for spas to register with their respective local government bodies for a fee of Rs. 500,000. According to these plans, the Health Ministry will be involved in monitoring employee health and hygiene and checking equipment, ointments, and lotions for their quality and expiration dates. Training will also be provided for employees by the Ayurveda Department. Spas will have to register with the Sri Lanka Spa Association as well.
Sri Lanka Spa Association President Prasanna Munasinghe said that following the discussion at the Presidential Secretariat, the Inspector General of Police assured a three-month relief period, free of raids, until the regulatory mechanism is established.
“Since 2019, the Ayurveda Department has suspended registration of spas. There are no new Ayurveda spas in the country. With unscrupulous activities taking place, there were more police raids. The spa industry is currently tarnished, with spas being called brothels and drug hotspots,” he said.
Mr. Munasinghe said the association had received information about narcotic use among female employees at these unprofessional spas.
“Indigenous Medicine State Minister Sisira Jayakody has assured NVQ level 2 training for all spa employees, but that’s something yet to happen.
