The bureau of foreign employment has suspended the registration with agencies recruiting women for jobs in Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
The decision will be in force until further notice.
Gamini Senarath Yapa, the Media Spokesperson of the Foreign Employment Bureau and Deputy General Manager, said this decision has been taken based on the facts that have been uncovered about the smuggling of women through official channels to work as sex workers in Oman.
The registration of women for domestic work and cleaning jobs in the United Arab Emirates and the registration of women to get tourist visas and work in the state of Oman have been temporarily suspended.
Although foreign employment agencies are required to provide details of those leaving the country for work to the Employment Bureau within 45 days, these registrations have been temporarily suspended owing to several issues including some agencies failing to provide details.
The Criminal Investigation Department has started an investigation into a sex trafficking racket. Sri Lankan women who are seeking jobs, including domestic service, are billed as sex workers in Oman in this racket.
Accordingly, a team of two Assistant Superintendents of Police investigated the matter in detail. It was revealed that some foreign employment agencies had taken young women to the host country with the promise of providing jobs using tourist visas. In this case, it was Oman.
Police investigations have revealed that women were lined up and sold for sex considering their age and appearance.
