Amid a rise in foreign employment-related fraud and human trafficking cases, police officers in the Anuradhapura District have been equipped with enhanced legal and investigative knowledge through a special awareness programme conducted by the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB).
The programme, held at the Anuradhapura District Secretariat Auditorium, focused on strengthening the ability of law enforcement officers to identify, investigate and take legal action against human trafficking networks and overseas job scams. Sessions covered key provisions of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau Act and related investigative procedures.
Officials noted that as interest in overseas employment continues to grow, more job seekers are being targeted through social media and other digital platforms by fraudsters promising lucrative opportunities abroad. The initiative aims to curb such exploitation by ensuring police officers, who are often the first point of contact for affected individuals, are well-versed in the applicable legal framework.
The awareness drive is being carried out island-wide by the Legal Division of the SLFEB in collaboration with its Anti-Human Trafficking Unit. The Anuradhapura programme was the first such initiative conducted this year, with similar sessions scheduled to be rolled out in other districts in the coming months.
