News Today: Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment blames ex-minister for visa scam

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has accused a former government minister of illegally signing an E-8 visa agreement, risking Sri Lankan workers’ longstanding access to E-9 visa employment opportunities. SLBFE Chairman Koshala Wickramasinghe stated that the agreement lacked proper Cabinet approval, violating regulations and enabling potential human trafficking.

The SLBFE clarified that no private agencies were authorized to process E-8 visas for seasonal jobs in South Korea, urging job seekers to avoid falling victim to this illegal scheme. Investigations have revealed that external parties, leveraging ties with the former minister, trained youth and unlawfully collected money, even raiding houses for repayments.

Minister Vijitha Herath has instructed strict legal actions, with the SLBFE and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) auditing these fraudulent activities. Despite unrest from groups allied with corrupt politicians, Wickramasinghe pledged to resolve the issue and uphold legal employment pathways.

The SLBFE also highlighted reforms under the current administration, such as reducing airfare costs significantly. A fraudulent Rs. 45 million misappropriation in airline ticket procurement has been exposed, reflecting a broader effort to combat white-collar crimes within the system.