Sex Trafficking | 90 Sri Lankan women given refuge at embassy in Oman

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Sri Lankan mission in Oman has made it clear that if people are entering the Sultanate of Oman for employment, they must enter through the proper channels.

The announcement came following multiple News 1st revelations about Sri Lankan women being trafficked to Oman using visit visa, and sold for sex.

Earlier this week, News 1st revealed that 12 Sri Lankan women who were taken against their will to Oman after flying to Abu Dhabi on a visit visa, remain unaccounted for, and an extensive investigation is underway locally and overseas.

An investigation by Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigations Department revealed that traffickers were taking away Sri Lankan women to Oman on visit vias, and they auctioned them to the highest bidder for sex.

Following News 1st revelations, reports have emerged of several other women who remain missing after being taken to Oman. Some reports claim these women have been detained against their will.

Fathima Hameedia is one Sri Lankan woman who remains unaccounted for in Oman.

A 22-year-old mother of one, Fathima Hameedia is a resident of Palakkadu, Batticaloa and she left for Oman on the 6th of March on a visit visa.

She had travelled overseas via a Foreign Employment Agency, however, several days after leaving the country she went missing.

"It's been nine months since my daughter went missing. We have no information about her. I wonder if the agency is selling them. They are not telling us anything. My daughter was mentally and physically traumatized. Please bring her back to the country," he mother told News 1st with tears in her eyes.

The Batticaloa branch of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka told News 1st that it was reported to them by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman that Fathima Hameedia was alive.

However, the investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department revealed that an officer at the safe house operated by the Sri Lankan missing in Oman was sexually abusing helpless Sri Lankan women.

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman on Thursday (17) released an official statement that said that 90 Sri Lankan women are housed at the safe house operated by it.

It added that the women are seeking assistance from the embassy to return to Sri Lanka, and the women are short of funds to make the trip back home.

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman also said that the women are yet to pay their relevant Foreign Employment Agencies their fees, as well as for medicine, airline ticket fees and fines for overstaying their visit.

In addition, the women also need to pay back those who sponsored their travel to Oman.

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman said that these women do not have the financial strength to make these payments.

It added during 2022, around 240 such Sri Lankans were granted refuge by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman.