A massive fraud has been uncovered at the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), where over 30,000 individuals, primarily women, were sent overseas for employment without undergoing the mandatory training program, resulting in financial losses exceeding Rs. 2.5 billion. The scam reportedly took place between 2022 and August 2024 and involved forged documents used to falsely show first-time job seekers as experienced workers, thereby bypassing the required training and associated fees.
So far, six SLBFE officials have been interdicted, including an Additional General Manager, four Arabic translators, and an Administrative Officer. However, SLBFE sources believe a larger network of officials and foreign employment agents is involved. The racketeers are alleged to have charged between Rs. 70,000 and Rs. 130,000 from each individual, while avoiding the official Rs. 28,000 training fee imposed by the SLBFE. The forged documents included fake job agreements and falsified travel histories, which were used to present these individuals as eligible for exemption from training based on prior experience.
The SLBFE had previously issued a circular allowing returning migrant workers with proof of experience and prior training to bypass the program. Investigators say this policy was exploited by racketeers to facilitate fraudulent departures. As a result, many women who were sent abroad through this scheme faced serious risks, including exploitation and abuse, due to their lack of proper training and preparation.
Alongside the internal SLBFE investigation, complaints are also being filed with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) for further action.
