this The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), responsible for facilitating overseas employment, has once again come under scrutiny for rampant corruption and unethical practices. Recent revelations by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) have exposed systemic exploitation within the institution, including the alarming case of 683 minors being illegally sent abroad as domestic workers using forged documents between 2024 and the present. This period coincides with Manusha Nanayakkara’s tenure as Labour Minister.
Despite repeated corruption exposés, the government’s response has often been reactive rather than proactive. Following the tragic 2013 execution of Rizana Nafeek, an underage girl sent to Saudi Arabia with forged documents, authorities introduced stricter verification processes and legal measures to prevent such incidents. However, these measures have failed to curb corruption within SLBFE, which continues to facilitate the illegal migration of vulnerable individuals.
The COPE investigation revealed a sophisticated network of corruption involving SLBFE officials, employment agencies, training centres, and even the Passport Office. Fraudulent skill certificates were issued to minors, allowing them to bypass employment regulations. Some agencies reportedly conducted interviews using pre-recorded videos, further undermining proper vetting procedures.
Moreover, 28,165 first-time migrant domestic workers were sent abroad without completing the mandatory residential training, resulting in a revenue loss of Rs 631.1 million. The SLBFE also allowed 4,942 domestic workers to travel on tourist visas, bypassing legal employment channels and leaving them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
The issue extends beyond financial misconduct. Reports indicate that SLBFE officials stationed at Sri Lankan missions abroad have been implicated in the exploitation of workers for money and even sexual abuse. Many workers who ended up stranded in shelters overseas had been victims of this corrupt system, further highlighting the agency’s failure to protect its citizens.
A shocking revelation by COPE also pointed to 900 employment agencies being linked to the fraudulent certification and illegal recruitment of underage workers. Some agencies charged vulnerable individuals as much as Rs 75,000 for forged certificates, falsely certifying them as experienced workers.
SLBFE Chairman Kosala Wickramasinghe acknowledged the COPE findings, admitting that underage workers had likely been sent overseas through falsified documentation. He stressed that internal investigations are underway and that corrupt officials within the SLBFE and affiliated agencies would be held accountable. Wickramasinghe also stated that political interference in the SLBFE has been curbed under the current administration and that a restructuring process is in progress.
To tackle these issues, the government aims to reduce the deployment of domestic workers to the Middle East, shifting focus toward technical and professional job categories. Additionally, Wickramasinghe has launched the ‘Talk to Chairman’ initiative, allowing the public to report corruption directly via WhatsApp and email.
As investigations continue, the pressing question remains: Is the SLBFE merely mismanaged, or is it a hub of deliberate exploitation? The findings suggest the latter, with a deeply entrenched system of corruption enabling the abuse of Sri Lanka’s most vulnerable job seekers.
