Cage these predators!

July 1, 2013, 8:49 pm

The health sector has become a haven for sex maniacs. Last December, Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena himself turned the spot light on the high incidence of sexual exploitation of female health workers. Trade unions have accused some unnamed higher-ups in the administrative setup of soliciting sexual favours from women for transfers. We have reported extensively on this shocking state of affairs and editorially called for action to deal with the sexual predators, but in vain.




This country is blessed with a plethora of organisations claiming to champion women’s rights. They usually talk the hind legs off a donkey, condemning gender inequality, sexual harassment etc at seminars and demonstrate opposite the Fort Railway Station and at the Lipton Circus, calling for a better deal for Sri Lankan women. They, no doubt, deserve public support for their noble cause. But, why is it that they never so much as utter a word in defence of the hapless women who have become victims of sexual predators in the health sector and are suffering in silence?


In December last year, we pointed out in these columns, quoting Bertrand Russell that the total amount of undesired sex endured by women was probably greater in marriage than in prostitution, and of the female health workers in this country, it could be said that the amount of undesired sex they had to endure at work place was greater than in prostitution.


We reported, on Saturday, quoting trade union sources, that an official at the Kandy Hospital had raped several female members of the minor staff and even forced some of them into prostitution. Hospital Director confirmed that he had received complaints from some of the victims. But, he said, they were too scared to come forward to give evidence against the monster concerned though the Health Ministry had dispatched a team of investigators to probe the allegations. He has transferred the suspected rapist to the hospital’s cleaning section, we are told. It may be difficult for him to do anything more within the confines of the administrative regulations, and a departmental inquiry may also not be possible because there have been no formal complaints. But, what prevents the police from conducting an investigation as sexual violence is a criminal offence? The guardians of the law are known for their high octane performance when they raid brothels. They also round up teenage lovers in parks and on beaches. They treat lovers like criminals and criminals like lovers!


A senior law professor was sentenced, the other day, to a five-month jail term in Singapore for obtaining sexual favours from a female student in exchange for better grades in 2010––sex for grades! Had he lived in Sri Lanka, he would have been able to take advantage of his students as long as he wished with impunity.


An incident where a provincial councilllor forced a teacher to kneel down for admonishing his daughter triggered an avalanche of public opprobrium, so much so that the government was jolted into action. But, the allegations of sexual violence against women in the health sector have been taken for granted to all intents and purposes. Teachers’ unions are ratcheting up pressure on the government, and rightly so, in a bid to ensure that the suspect politician will not go scot free, but mum’s the word on the part of the health workers and their trade unions anent the alleged instances of sexual violence at work place. They who take to the streets and even stage wildcat strikes, if an outsider ever so much as taps a hospital worker, have strangely chosen to ignore sexual crimes against their female members!


It is more than seven months since Health Minister, who is one of the few outspoken politicians not given to sweeping problems under the carpet, undertook to call in the police to tackle the problem of sexual exploitation of health workers of all grades. The time has come for him to walk the walk.