Govt hopeful to release group of Lankans held captive in Myanmar soon
The government is hopeful of releasing soon another group of Sri Lankans who were trafficked for forced criminal activities in cyber scamming compounds in Myanmar, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya said.
Speaking to Newswire, State Minister Balasuriya said measures are underway to release the group soon, revealing that 49 more Sri Lankans are still held captive at a camp in the Cyber Criminal area operated by a terrorist group in Myanmar.
The State Minister of Foreign Affairs added that negotiations are underway with the Governments of Myanmar and Thailand to facilitate the release of the group of Sri Lankans.
State Minister Balasuriya further revealed that more Sri Lankans are continuing to fall victim to the racket, adding that reports have emerged of another Sri Lankan youth who had been employed via human traffickers.
The State Minister requested the public to remain vigilant of such human trafficking rackets and to refrain from falling victim to such employment scams.
In December last year, it was reported that a group of 56 Sri Lankans had been brought to Thailand for jobs related to the IT Industry and instead had been held captive at a camp in the Cyber Criminal area operated by a terrorist group in Myanmar.
Reports at the time revealed that the group of Sri Lankans were being subjected to inhumane treatment by the terrorist group, with the terrorists demanding up to US$ 8000 per person for their release.
Following a discussion with the Myanmar authorities, the Embassy of Sri Lanka was able to last year rescue 32 Sri Lankans who were held captive.
Thereafter, discussions were underway between Sri Lankan and Myanmar authorities to rescue the remaining 56 Sri Lankans who were being held captive, out of which the authorities managed to rescue 08 Sri Lankans in April this year.
Currently, 49 Sri Lankans are being held captive at a camp in the Cyber Criminal area operated by a terrorist group in Myanmar, with the Sri Lankan government engaged in efforts to rescue them