Twenty-five Sri Lankan nationals who had been trafficked to cybercrime centres in Myawaddy, Myanmar, have been successfully rescued and repatriated to Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The rescue operation was coordinated by the Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Bangkok, in close collaboration with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, as well as the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Myanmar.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Thailand, Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, along with embassy officials, engaged extensively with Thai authorities to secure the necessary clearances and ensure the safe return of the victims. Coordination took place with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Social Development, National Security Council, Tak Province authorities and Immigration officials.
The rescued Sri Lankans were transferred through Mae Sot, Thailand, before being repatriated to Colombo with logistical support arranged by the Sri Lankan Mission.
The Embassy expressed its appreciation to the Governments of Thailand and Myanmar for their cooperation in facilitating the operation. It also acknowledged the assistance provided by the International Organization for Migration and local non-governmental organisations in Mae Sot, particularly in arranging air travel and other logistical support.
