The Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka says that they, in coordination with Sri Lankan Missions in Myanmar and Thailand successfully facilitated the repatriation of 20 Sri Lankans who had been victims of human trafficking to Myanmar. They arrived safely in Colombo on September 05.
The MFA statement further notes :
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with Sri Lankan Missions in Myanmar and Thailand successfully facilitated the repatriation of 20 Sri Lankans who had been victims of human trafficking to Myanmar. They arrived safely in Colombo on September 05, 2024.
Following the Ministry’s persistent efforts, these Sri Lankans were rescued and evacuated from Myanmar on August 14, 2024, with close collaboration and support from law enforcement authorities in both Myanmar and Thailand.
Officials from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Bangkok met with the rescued Sri Lankans on August 15, 2024, in Mae Sot, a border city in Thailand near Myanmar, to ensure their safety and well-being during their stay in Thailand. The Thai government provided them with food, shelter, and other essentials until the repatriation formalities were completed. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) supported the repatriation by providing air tickets and transportation. Mr.Kanchana Bandara, Director of Consular Affairs Division, received the group of 20 Sri Lankans at Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo, on September 05, 2024.
The Consular Affairs Division of the Ministry, in collaboration with Sri Lankan Missions in Yangon and Bangkok and other relevant stakeholders, coordinated the rescue and repatriation of the Sri Lankans.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been informed that 35 Sri Lankans remain trapped in the Myawaddy area of Myanmar. The Ministry is persistently working with relevant authorities to ensure their early rescue and repatriation.
The Ministry strongly urges the public not to fall victim to human trafficking syndicates when seeking employment abroad. The Ministry advises Sri Lankans to strictly adhere to the government-approved procedures for securing foreign employment and avoid unauthorized channels.
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the release of former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and his son, Ramith Rambukwella, on bail.
The order was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali following the consideration of submissions made by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and the defense counsel.
The case accuses Keheliya Rambukwella of causing a loss of over Rs. 08 million to the government by allegedly placing 15 individuals on his ministerial staff only in name and drawing their salaries, allowances, and overtime payments.
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has confirmed that no data was compromised during the recent cyberattack on its SMS portal.
Additional General Manager – Pradeep Herath assured that a special program is underway to enhance the security of the Board’s data systems.
On June 01, an unidentified individual attempted unauthorized access to the NWSDB website.
The hacker had gained access to the SMS system, sending around 10,000 fraudulent messages to customers, claiming they needed to make a payment to retrieve their data.
The NWSDB had promptly restored the SMS service and briefed the affected customers about the scam.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) is taking measures to implement a 24-hour operational system to strengthen the cybersecurity of government websites.
Senior Information Security Engineer – Charuka Damunupola highlighted that vulnerabilities in the security systems may have facilitated the cyber attack.
CEAT OHT Lanka (Pvt) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of CEAT Limited, India, has reassured employees that their jobs are secure following the acquisition of the CAMSO brand’s off-highway construction equipment bias tyre and tracks business from Michelin Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.
The holding company, CEAT Ltd. of Mumbai, India, announced in December 2024 that a definitive agreement had been signed for the acquisition. This includes the Midigama plant. the Casting Product Division in Kotugoda and some parts of other divisions providing central services.
To formalize the transition, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on May 22, 2025, between CEAT OHT Lanka, Michelin Lanka, and the Inter Company Employees Union.
The agreement guarantees 100% job security, preservation of past service, seniority, remuneration, and employee benefits.
However, employees of Michelin Lanka in Midigama, Matara, recently protested claiming that their jobs were at risk due to the sale.
CEAT, operating in over 120 countries, emphasized its commitment to employee welfare and workplace satisfaction, affirming it will honor all obligations under the agreement and actively invest in business growth.
CEAT, listed on the Mumbai Stock Exchange and part of the RPG Group, is a leading manufacturer of tyres for cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles, scooters, and off-highway vehicles.
CEAT had previously acquired Kelani Tyres, a fully state-owned enterprise in 1993, which was considered as a controversial deal facilitated by Ranil Wickremesinghe.
