5,000 Sri Lankans in Dubai for work using Visit Visa

COLOMBO (News 1st) - More than five thousand Sri Lankans have travelled to Dubai on visit visa for exmployment, revealed Sri Lanka's State Tourism Minister Tharaka Balasuriya on Monday (21).

The State Minister also said that 19 Sri Lankans who had travelled to Abu Dhavi have also refused to return to Sri Lanka.

'These groups are trying to travel to Oman for employment,' said the State Minister adding that most people are interested in overseas employment opportunities given the current situation in the country, however, stressed that it is important use official channels to travel overseas for employment.

The State Minister also said that a proper study will be conducted to control the use of visit visa for employment overseas.

The situation surrounding overseas employment in the Middle East reached national level condemnation after reports surfaced that Sri Lankan women were being auctioned and sold as sex slaves in Oman.

Suspects Arrested:

On Saturday 19th October 2022, Sri Lanka's Immigration and Emigration Department arrested a 40-year-old man at the Katunayake Airport for engaging in human smuggling.

He was arrested when returning to Sri Lanka from Dubai, and was identified as a resudent from Wattala who was operating a Foreign Employment Agency in Maradana, Colombo 10.

Thereafter, on Sunday (20) another suspect connected to the human trafficking ring was arrested from Avissawella.

He was identified as a broker who sends Sri Lankan women to the Middle Easter, where they are smuggled from Abu Dhabi to Oman to be sold as sex slaves.

The suspect was arrested based on the complaints made filed by Sri Lankan women stranded in the Middle East.

Foreign Employment Agencies in hot water:

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment over the weekend took measures temporarily terminate the liceses issued to two Foreign Employment Agencies that were linked to human trafficking.

SLBFE General Manager Gamini Senarath told News 1st that one other Foreign Employment Agency was blacklisted as well.

Safe-House Abuse: 

Around 90 women who were subject to multiple forms of physical and mental abuse are currently given shelter at a safe house operated by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman.

However, this safe house lacks the most basic facilities to accommodate a single woman, let alone 90 of them.

These Sri Lankan women, some of who were auctioned for sex, are at this safe house because of the excessive trauma that they experienced, and sadly it has now been revealed that they repeatedly exploited the safe house in Oman.

On Sunday (20) several Sri Lankan women approached News 1st and detained the horros they had to experience in Oman at the hands of a Sri Lankan diplomat stationed there.

These women blamed an Embassy Official named Kushan as a person who abuses them and intimidates them.

Death Threats:

Meanwhile Ranthatige Nishanka alias Dubai Sudda who revealed details of this human trafficking ring has received death threats. 

He told News 1st that after he exposed what is happening to Sri Lankan women in Oman, traffickers have put a price of Rs. 1 Million or more on his head.

The Foreign Employment Bureau said that the official attached to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman accused of these heinous crimes has been suspended. 

The suspended official is the Officer acting in the capacity of Third Secretary at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman E.K. Kushan. 

The Criminal Investigations Department said it has approached the country's Attorney General for advice on proceeding against the illegal activity.