Sri Lankans are increasingly turning to online sexual content production as several foreign-based adult websites and mobile apps offer financial incentives, police said yesterday.
Young couples in particular are reportedly drawn to these platforms due to the belief that their identities will remain hidden and that such activities can be carried out privately from home.
However, police have warned that promoting, producing, or distributing sexual content online is illegal in Sri Lanka and that individuals involved can face prosecution.
A senior officer told the media that although some platforms operate from abroad, participation and facilitation from within Sri Lanka fall under criminal offences.
In a recent case highlighting this growing trend, a married couple was arrested by the Nugegoda Divisional Children and Women’s Bureau for filming and uploading their own pornographic videos to a UK-based paid adult website.
Investigations revealed that the husband is a computer engineering graduate from a private university, while the wife holds a diploma in psychology from another private institution. The couple had reportedly turned to producing adult content after both lost their jobs and encountered financial difficulties.
The arrests took place on Friday (08) at a three-storey house in Rajagiriya, where the couple lived on the top floor. The house had been given to the woman as dowry, while her relatives occupied the lower floors.
Police officers confirmed that the bedroom, living room, kitchen, and furniture shown in the videos matched the interior of the third-floor residence. A mobile phone used for filming and a laptop used to edit and upload the videos were seized.
According to police, the couple entered into an agreement with the foreign website in November last year, requiring them to produce eight videos per month. They have uploaded a total of 334 videos and earned between Rs. 150,000 and Rs. 200,000 per month, with additional income based on the number of views.
The couple told investigators they believed their identities would remain concealed as the website would not be accessible in Sri Lanka until August this year. Police also confirmed that the couple has no children.
Authorities reiterated that promoting prostitution or sexual activities through websites and digital platforms is an offence. Individuals involved in producing, uploading, managing, or distributing such content can be charged.
Prostitution and related activities remain illegal under Sri Lanka’s Vagrancy Ordinance and Brothels Ordinance. Those who engage in or facilitate such activities are subject to arrest and legal action.
The suspects were scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court.
