The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Chairman, Kosala Wickramasinghe, has raised concerns about serious illegal activities linked to the issuance of E-8 visa categories for Korean employment. These activities have resulted in issues involving 108 individuals and are now being leveraged to incite social protests. The SLBFE has filed a formal complaint with the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) today (25) regarding the matter.
According to Chairman Wickramasinghe, evidence suggests that former Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, Manusha Nanayakkara, attempted to profit illegally through the introduction of the E-8 visa system. Investigations into this matter are ongoing.
Speaking on the Derana Big Focus program, Wickramasinghe accused the former minister of violating legal procedures while attempting to introduce the controversial E-8 visa system. He further alleged that as the government seeks to address illegal foreign employment practices, certain groups are attempting to incite protests to hinder investigations into the visa controversy.
The SLBFE Chairman went on to say;
On Job Promotion and Legal Processes
“Our primary objective is job promotion. However, the SLBFE Act outlines how foreign employment opportunities must be provided legally to Sri Lankans. We already have established systems like the Employment Permit System (EPS) for sending workers to South Korea, as well as the E-7 visa introduced last year. Both processes are ongoing.
“The E-8 visa, however, was introduced without proper study or adherence to government procedures. It appears to have been obtained through illegal practices. Even the Labour Department officials were unaware of the agreement signed by the former minister.
“A proper system must be followed for international employment agreements, including Cabinet approval and compliance with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. Unfortunately, the former minister bypassed these processes, signing an illegal agreement without even informing the Labour Ministry. Neither the SLBFE nor the Labour Ministry has any documentation or an MoU related to this agreement.”
On Complaints from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Seoul
“In April, the former minister signed the MoU. By May, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Seoul reported that money was being collected illegally for jobs under the E-8 visa. The SLBFE had no involvement in this process and issued a statement clarifying that no MoU had been signed to collect money or provide employment under this visa.
“Within a short time of the agreement’s signing, private groups began exploiting the system. Korean language training institutes in Sri Lanka facilitated the issuance of E-8 visas through private agencies, bypassing legal channels.”
On Human Trafficking and Financial Exploitation
“No one has traveled to Korea using the E-8 visa. We increased airport security to prevent illegal departures and arrested individuals involved in the racket. Eight youths who were attempting to leave the country illegally under the E-8 visa system revealed that Rs. 1.2 million had been collected from each of them. Legal action has been taken, and Rs. 7 million was recovered from those who exploited these individuals.
“We have identified 108 E-8 visas issued through this illegal process. Despite pressure from certain groups, we found connections between the former Labour Minister’s associates and this operation. This raises serious concerns about the minister’s involvement in facilitating human trafficking for personal gain.”
A Message to Protesters and the Public
“I urge those protesting now to understand that their actions won’t resolve the issue. The government is taking legal action against individuals and groups who collected money under the pretense of providing E-8 visa job opportunities. Those who collected the money must return it. Do not fall prey to these groups’ false promises.
“This does not mean the government is ignoring the issue. We are committed to protecting people’s lives and ensuring foreign employment is conducted through legal and proper channels. Issuing visas illegally only jeopardizes the safety of workers and tarnishes the country’s reputation.”
“This year, nearly 285,000 Sri Lankans have legally departed for foreign employment. The individuals affected by the E-8 visa scam represent a small fraction. While providing employment opportunities for all is important, it must be done legally. An illegal visa cannot be insured or recognized by the law. This is why we will not allow such practices to continue.”
