November 26, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Chairman Koshala Wickramasinghe has revealed that an unauthorized agreement concerning the E-8 visa category, signed by a former government minister, has jeopardized longstanding employment opportunities under the E-9 visa category. These opportunities have provided thousands of Sri Lankan youth with legal employment in South Korea for over two decades.
Addressing the media, Wickramasinghe clarified that the E-8 visa, meant for seasonal employment, lacks the necessary legal and procedural authorization. He emphasized that the SLBFE has not approved any private agencies to facilitate such employment and condemned the exploitation of job seekers by private parties demanding exorbitant fees.
The controversy stems from a privately signed agreement by a former minister without Cabinet approval. This unauthorized deal led to individuals being trained and sent abroad under illegal arrangements, a practice Wickramasinghe labeled as human trafficking. The SLBFE has alerted the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and initiated an internal audit to investigate the matter.
Wickramasinghe further highlighted the potential damage to Sri Lanka’s reputation with South Korean authorities, warning that the E-8 visa fraud could reduce annual job quotas under the E-9 category, which legally employs approximately 6,000 Sri Lankans annually.
The SLBFE chairman assured that the government is taking decisive action to address the issue, including legal proceedings against those involved and a renewed focus on maintaining transparency and fairness in foreign employment processes.
