Agency licence cancelled following Lankan woman's death

Authorities conducting full probe:

Rasika SOMARATHNA

The licence of the foreign employment recruitment agency that illegally sent abroad a female from Kosgama, who subsequently died in an accident while employed in Saudi Arabia, has been cancelled.

A Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) spokesman said the licence issued to the agency in Maradana had been withdrawn as it had failed to register the woman at the bureau, which is compulsory.

The agency had also deviated from the normal procedure by sending her on a visit visa instead of an employment visa. The deceased's family earlier alleged that the circumstances surrounding the death of Y M Minoli, 24, was suspicious and needed to be probed.

Meanwhile, the Saudi government, following a post-postmortem inquiry, has informed the SLBFE that the woman had committed suicide by jumping off a building.

However, as the reason for the alleged suicide is yet to be ascertained, the SLBFE has requested the Criminal Investigations Department to carry out further investigations.

The SLBFE is also planning legal action against the agency that sent her abroad, after the completion of investigations.

Meanwhile, Foreign Employment and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera charged that certain Opposition politicians were trying to use the issue for petty political gain.

He said the authorities were conducting a full probe despite the fact that the woman had gone abroad without getting registered at the bureau.

While extending his personal condolences to the bereaved family members, Perera said if any one is found guilty, they would be punished according to the law.

He said the authorities were looking at the possibility of providing relief to the woman's husband and her family.