Sex Trafficking: CID makes two more arrests; suspects remanded

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Two more men arrested for their alleged link to the sex trafficking ring in Oman were remanded to the 1st of December 2023.

The suspects were produced to the Colombo Chief Magistrate Nandana Amarasinghe by the Criminal Investigations Department on Tuesday (22).

One suspect was arrested by the CID in Kurunegala, while the other was arrested in Colombo.

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 five people have been arrested by Sri Lankan authorities for their links to a sex trafficking ring. 

Sri Lanka's Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment  Manusha Nanayakkara in Parliament informed today (22) that the law will be strictly enforced against those involved in trafficking women to Oman, where they are auctioned and sold to the highest bidder.

Minister Manusha Nanayakkara revealed to the parliament that as per the data available with the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau there are 12 Sri Lankan women at the Safe-House in Oman operated by the Sri Lankan Embassy who had registered themselves with the SLFEB, and another 65 who had used visit visa to travel to Oman citing other reasons to Sri Lankan authorities.

He added that 70 Sri Lankan women registered with the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau, and 7 Sri Lankan women have used visit visa and are currently held in Dubai.

The Minister went on to note that Sri Lankans who registered with the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau and face issues overseas can be brought back to the country without any issue, however, there is growing concern over the rise in numbers using visit visa for employment purposes.

He added that legal action was instituted on over 100 incidents of abuse, and multiple suspects were arrested based on the investigations.

He revealed to the house that only 40 Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau personnel are assigned to meet the needs of all countries, however, Cabinet has approved to recruit of another 50 personnel.

Minister Manusha Nanayakkara individual at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman who is accused of committing sexual abuse towards Sri Lankan women over there has been interdicted and will be brought back to the country where he will be arrested on arrival, and will be investigated.