The Island
Five unlicensed foreign employment agencies were raided in Hali-Ela, Welimada, Ambanpola, and Maradana by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). Numerous travel documents were seized and suspects produced in Court.
One such agency in Hali-Ela was raided and 99 passports seized along with several other documents. One person was taken into custody and produced before the Badulla Magistrate. He was granted personal bail in a sum of Rs. 500,000 and further hearing put off for August 17.
Another unauthorized agency was raided in Welimada where eight passports together with various other documents were seized. A woman suspect too was arrested and produced before the Welimada Magistrate who released her on personal bail in Rs. 200,000 and a fine of Rs. 10,000. Further hearing was fixed for August 31.
Yet another unregistered agency was raided at Ambanpola and a suspect arrested, along with two passports and several documents. After being produced before the Maho Magistrate, the suspect was fined Rs. 7000 and granted bail in a sum of Rs. 100,000.
There were two such cases in Maradana. An agency was raided at Maligawatte and a suspect with 52 passports was arrested, while at Mihindu Mawatha, another suspect was arrested together with eight passports and several documents. Both were produced before the Maligakanda Magistrate. both were released on personal bail, one in Rs. 20,000 and the other in Rs. 25,000.