Spa owners in Sri Lanka have urged the government to expedite the legalization and regulation of their industry to recognize it as an official business sector.
Prasanna Munasinghe of the Sri Lanka Spa Owners Association told the media that all necessary documents for legalizing and regulating spas have been submitted, but the process has been delayed.
“We only employ trained therapists who hold valid licences and do not employ women against their will. A training course for spa therapists is being conducted in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, with sessions also held outside Colombo,” he said.
Munasinghe highlighted that the spa industry provides 300,000 direct jobs and 600,000 indirect jobs across the country.
He also called on the police to cease raids on legitimate spa businesses, stressing that the Association is not opposed to raids on brothels.
Meanwhile, the Association has filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission against a police officer accused of harassing spa owners in Nugegoda.
