Labor and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara stated that individuals who joined human traffickers and went to work in camps in Russia and Ukraine without government approval or diplomatic relations are now helpless and have become victims of human trafficking.
The minister mentioned that efforts are underway to gather information through the Russian and Ukrainian embassies and to bring these individuals back to Sri Lanka. However, these people did not join government forces but mercenary forces, making it very difficult to obtain information about them.
He made these remarks while addressing journalists at an event held yesterday at the Sri Lanka Foreign Service Bureau, where air tickets and visas were provided to a group of people going to Israel for work.
“If you are going to work abroad, do so legally. No matter which country they go to for work, they must register under the Foreign Employment Agency Act of 1985. This is a legal requirement. These individuals have challenged that law and are now helpless. Human traffickers exploit innocent people to make money,” the minister added.