Sri Lanka has successfully repatriated 25 of its nationals who were rescued from cybercrime centres in Myawaddy, Myanmar, following a coordinated diplomatic operation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.
The rescued individuals were brought back to Sri Lanka on 16 December 2025 through the efforts of the Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Bangkok, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, and the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Myanmar.
The operation was carried out with the active support of Thai authorities. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Thailand, Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, along with embassy officials, worked closely with Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Social Development, National Security Council, Tak Province authorities and Immigration officials to secure the necessary clearances and ensure the safe and orderly return of the victims.
The Sri Lankan Mission expressed its deep appreciation to the Governments of Thailand and Myanmar for their cooperation in facilitating the humanitarian operation. It also acknowledged the valuable assistance provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in both Thailand and Sri Lanka, as well as international non-governmental organizations based in the Mae Sot area of Thailand, which supported international air travel and other logistical arrangements.
Sri Lankan authorities reiterated their commitment to protecting citizens abroad and continuing diplomatic efforts to combat human trafficking and cybercrime networks that target vulnerable individuals seeking overseas employment.
