Another Sakvithi bared

Rasika Somarathna

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) sleuths have bared a major scam similar to the Sakvithi scandal related to the foreign employment recruitment with the detection of an islandwide network run by a millionaire businessman, who had swindled millions of rupees from unsuspecting job seekers, with the promise of lucrative jobs abroad.

The activities of this bogus network came to light when this organisation’s nerve centre which was operating a rogue manpower recruitment agency under the guise of being foreign educational consultants, was busted by SLBFE sleuths in Kurunegala recently.

It is believed that this organisation which had a well co-ordinated sub agent network throughout the island, had duped prospective employment seekers abroad with the promise of lucrative opportunities mainly to European destinations and USA.

SLBFE sources said they had already received more than 200 complaints from applicants who had paid vast sums with the expectation of securing highly paid employment opportunities abroad.

A large haul of forged documents such as visas, job agreements and passports were recovered from this office complex, SLBFE sources added. SLBFE sleuths recently busted two other rogue agencies in Kurunegala which ran a lucrative business with the promise of jobs in UK, USA, New Zealand, Malaysia etc. under the pretext of sending prospective applicants for educational purposes.

According to SLBFE sources, the millionaire businessman suspected to be involved in this scam is believed to be someone who came under the hammer with regard to another financial fraud in the wake of the infamous ‘Sakvithi’ scandal.

SLBFE Chairman Kingsley Ranawaka warned yesterday to beware of unscrupulous recruitment agents and foreign educational consultants.

He said even to obtain student visas, the contract should be sanctioned by both local authorities as well as foreign missions.

The SLBFE said the agency had neither a licence to engage in recruitment for foreign employment, nor for educational purposes.

Ranawaka also warned prospective labour migrants and those seeking educational opportunities abroad, to be vigilant and check their sources from authorities.