18 December 2024 10:06 am Views - 351
Colombo, Dec 17 (Daily Mirror) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism said it is collaborating with relevant authorities to ensure the swift rescue and repatriation of Sri Lankans still trapped in Myanmar.
These individuals had been lured into cybercrime operations and became victims of human trafficking.
In coordination with Sri Lanka Missions in Myanmar and Thailand, the Ministry facilitated the repatriation of 27 Sri Lankans from Myanmar.
Senior officials of the Ministry's Consular Affairs Division received the Sri Lankans at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Monday.
The Sri Lankan Ambassador to Thailand and Embassy officials in Bangkok received the victims on 25 November at the Mae Sot border in Thailand. Subsequently, they were brought to Bangkok and provided accommodation until their repatriation was arranged. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) provided logistical assistance in repatriating the rescued Sri Lankans. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, along with Sri Lanka’s Ambassadors in Thailand and Myanmar, coordinated the rescue process of the victims.
Ven. Maligawila Assaji Thero, who represented the families of the trafficked Sri Lankan victims, also played a key role in the process.
The Ministry strongly urged the public not to fall victim to human trafficking schemes when seeking foreign employment. The Ministry advised Sri Lankans to strictly adhere to government-approved procedures and verify their job opportunities or offers with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) before securing foreign employment.