Embassy official rejects sexual abuse allegations; Woman linked to sex trafficking bailed

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Third Secretary of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman E. Kushan is alleged to have committed sexual abuse, and engaged in the trafficking of Sri Lankan women for sex. 

However, he denies these claims and told EXCLUSIVELY to News 1st that these allegations are fabricated and have no ground. 

On Sunday (21) several former expats visited News 1st and expose startling details, and the said Third Secretary of the Sri Lankan Embassy rejected all the allegations as baseless. 

"While talking he put his arms around me, and I tried to push him away. I told him that that was not what I came for and I came to speak. He said if I stay with him, he would take measures to send me back to Sri Lanka. When I screamed, he became afraid and dropped me at the embassy safe-house at around 8:30 PM on the 31st of August," one woman told News 1st on the condition of anonymity. 

The Third Secretary of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman dismissed these allegations.

"Fathima came to Oman in December 2021 using a Visit Visa via Dubai. She was working under a sponsor, and that person had raped her. She escaped, and entered our safe house. In March 2022, with 11 other women she protested and damaged the property. There is a woman called Rasika and she brings women from Sri Lanka on Visit Visa with no permit or documentation. I reported it to the authorities, and a fine of 1,000 Riyals was imposed," he said noting that these allegations are false.

He also completely reject allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct. 

"I informed the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment to stop issuing visit visa. I have the letters. But, these people are registered with the state and were sent to Oman and Dubai," he added. 

Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigations Department arrested a woman with links to the sex trafficking ring in Oman, after she surrendered to the CID on Monday (21) morning. She was later released on two personal bails of Rs. 300,000/- each.

The Human Trafficking, Smuggling and Maritime Crime Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department was hunting for Asha Dissanayake for several weeks for her links to a sex trafficking ring in Oman.

The CID said that she had four registered addresses, and she had gone into hiding as search operations at those premises proved futile. 

Therefore, the Director of the Human Trafficking, Smuggling and Maritime Crime Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department SSP Samarakoon Banda had deployed two teams to locate and arrest her, and thereafter she surrendered to the authorities. A total of three people have been arrested by Sri Lankan authorities for their links to a sex trafficking ring. 

Unfortunately, many Sri Lankan women who were subject to mental and physical trauma remain in a hostile environment overseas. 

Nishamali Anuradha, a mother of three children from Dambulla, had left for Oman in February. She had later fallen ill and sought assistance from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman, however, she has been living in the embassy safe-house for over four months. Her three children, who don't have the care of a father-figure, appeal the authorities to bring their mother back. 

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC told News 1st that the 22 Sri Lankan women stranded in Oman will be brought back to the country. He said that an agreement was reached by all relevant parties during a meeting on Sunday (20). The International Organization on Migration has also agreed for the repatriation of these women.