Bogus job agency in Katugastota busted

Rasika Somarathna

KANDY: A rogue foreign employment agency which ran a lucrative business for several years sans a valid license in Haloluwa, Katugastota was busted by Foreign Employment Bureau sleuths with authorities describing the detection as the largest ever done by the SLBFE in recent times.

SLBFE sleuths had to use seven gunny bags to transport documents recovered from the unauthorised manpower recruiter including passports, visas, photos, job agreements, applications.

The main suspect who was remanded for 14 days pending investigations, had run a well organised business promising employment mainly to Middle East and European destinations, SLBFE sources said.

The raid was conducted on information by the public, SLBFE Chairman Kingsley Ranawaka said yesterday. The SLBFE announced cash rewards for information leading to the capture of rogue manpower recruiters.

According to Ranawaka operating without a valid license with regards to recruitment for foreign employment has been banned under the Sri Lankan law and is considered a punishable offense.

According to Bureau sources the agency might have duped unsuspecting job seekers swindling large sums of money with the promise of lucrative opportunities abroad.

Investigations were continuing to ascertain matters in this regard.

Investigators were also looking at the possibility of whether the suspect was aiding and abetting human trafficking.

The raid was carried out by SLBFE officers Palitha Seneviratne, W.G. Ekanayaka, B.U.Ananda and Manjula Bandara.