Sri Lanka : SLBFE and CID officers leave for Oman to probe human trafficking racket

Dec 11, Colombo: A team comprising officers of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had left for Oman Saturday (10) to investigate the human trafficking racket, the SLBFE said.

The SLBFE in a statement said the team left yesterday on the instructions of the Minister of Labor and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara to investigate the incidents related to the human trafficking racket involving Sri Lankan migrant workers in Oman.

The team includes an Additional General Manager of the SLBFE, three investigating officers, a police inspector and a female sub-inspector of the CID.

The SLBFE said a special investigation regarding the recently reported incidents of people being sent abroad in violation of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act and human trafficking will specifically be carried out during the investigation, announced.

An official of the Foreign Employment Bureau said the group will question a large number of people including women and embassy officials staying in the country.

Sri Lanka Criminal Investigation Department last month arrested the third secretary of Sri Lanka Embassy in Oman in connection with the alleged human trafficking ring.

It has been reported that Sri Lankan women have been sent to Oman on tourist visas promising employment and sold them to the country's millionaire businessmen.