Two individuals, including a retired Army Colonel, have been arrested in connection with a large-scale foreign employment scam that defrauded nearly Rs. 20 million from job seekers by promising employment opportunities in several European countries.
According to the Special Investigation Unit of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), the suspects operated under a registered agency named FC International in Negombo, claiming to secure jobs in the hospitality sector in Hungary, the Netherlands, and Finland.
Investigations revealed that while the agency had obtained approval for job placements in Hungary, no official requests or job orders existed for hospitality positions. The SLBFE said it had received around 20 complaints from victims across the country who had paid large sums but were never provided the promised jobs.
Following investigations, officers arrested two suspects, a resident of Mawanella with long-standing experience in the foreign employment sector and a retired Army Colonel residing in Kadawatha, in operations carried out in Mawanella and Imbulgoda.
The main suspects, including the owner of FC International, her husband, and the agency’s manager, have reportedly gone into hiding following the arrests. The court has imposed a travel ban on them while efforts are underway to apprehend the fugitives.
The arrested suspects were produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court and remanded until October 10. Meanwhile, the SLBFE has suspended the agency’s operating licence pending further investigations.
The operation was led by Chief Inspector Ariyawansa, with Inspectors S.K.K. Madushanka and Alwis, and Investigation Officers Idunil Pushpakumara and Sergeant Dahanayake.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Employment, Arun Hemachandra, said the Special Police Unit continues to receive a growing number of complaints related to foreign employment scams.
The public has been urged to report any information regarding fraudulent foreign job agencies or individuals to the SLBFE Special Investigation Unit via 011-2882228. (Newswire)