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Major racket at SLBFE bared

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Multiple probes have been called following revelations that over 30,000 people, mainly females had been sent overseas for employment without the mandatory job training causing a loss of over Rs.2,500 million to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment.

Already six individuals, including an Additional General Manager of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) have been interdicted, but an SLBFE source said a wider network including more officials and foreign employment agents are suspected to be involved.

In addition to an SLBFE probe, complaints will be lodged with the Criminal Investigation Department and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, he added.

In addition to the Additional General Manager other interdicted officers include four Arabic translators and an Administrative Officer, SLBFE sources revealed.

The fraud according to SLBFE sources had taken place during the period from 2022 to August 2024.

Investigations done by the SLBFE have unearthed that over 30,000 individuals mostly women domestic workers were exempted from the mandatory training between 2022 and August 2024 and were sent overseas for employment with the aid of forged documents.

Racketeers had prepared forged documents to show first time overseas employment seekers had prior overseas employment experience in order to avoid the SLBFE mandatory training and relevant fees.

Employment seekers had been charged fees ranging from Rs.70,000 to Rs.130,000 which racketeers allegedly had pocketed, sources said. The SLBFE authorities had issued a circular sometime back allowing those with prior experience and training to migrate for employment again after submitting documental proof regarding their expertise and experience. A committee appointed by the SLBFE approves such employment departures after perusing the relevant documents.

The first time domestic workers are subjected to a training and a fee of around Rs.28,000.

An SLBFE source said racketeers had even forged travel documents and prepared bogus job agreements to show foreign employment aspirants possessed prior experience.

The source also said information has emerged about many female migrant workers who went for overseas jobs in the above manner facing risks and difficulties and even abuse at times due to lack of experience and training.

(dailynews.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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3 dead in Dunhinda bus accident 

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Three persons have died from the bus accident at Dunhinda in Badulla today (June 21), according to hospital sources.

A total of 34 individuals were injured when the bus toppled down a precipice this evening (June 21) at the 4th Mile Post area, near the Dunhinda bends on the Badulla–Mahiyanganaya road.

According to reports, the passengers were a group of pilgrims travelling from Badulla to Anuradhapura.

The injured persons have been admitted to the Badulla General Hospital. 

Police are conducting further investigations.

(Pic : Accident1st)

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11th International Day of Yoga celebrated in Colombo (Pics)

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The 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) was celebrated with great enthusiasm by the High Commission of India in Colombo and its cultural arm, the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Sri Lanka at the historic Independence Square in Colombo today (June 21).

This year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health”, highlighted the universal relevance of yoga in fostering harmony between humans and nature.

The High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, H.E. Santosh Jha, joined the celebrations along with distinguished guests including Minister of Science and Technology – Dr. Chrishantha Abeysena, Minister of Labour and the Deputy Minister of Economic Development – Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka – Dr. Rizvie Salih, Deputy Minister of Defence – Major General K. P. Aruna Jayasekara, Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs – Gamagedara Dissanayake Deputy Minister of Sports – Sugath Thilakaratna, and other senior dignitaries.
The event began with a spiritual invocation through prayers by Most Ven. Dr. Maitipe Wimalasara Nayaka Thera and the Maha Sangha, who offered blessings for peace and well-being. A dynamic and refreshing yoga and meditation session followed, conducted by experts from renowned yoga institutions in India and Sri Lanka. The event brought together hundreds of yoga enthusiasts, dignitaries, and students in a shared spirit of wellness and unity. As part of the celebrations, a specially curated Yoga Pendrive and a Sinhala translation of the Hatha Yoga Pradeepika were launched, aiming to make authentic yoga knowledge more accessible. Complementing the main event in Colombo, the Consulates in Hambantota and Jaffna, along with the Assistant High Commission in Kandy, also organized special events – reflecting the enthusiastic and widespread participation in the 11th International Day of Yoga across Sri Lanka.

In a significant prelude to the main event, the Department of Ayurveda, Ministry of Health, Government of Sri Lanka and Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre jointly organized a landmark, island-wide celebration of the International Day of Yoga on 19 June 2025, with simultaneous yoga sessions held in 113 Ayurveda hospitals and four universities across all nine provinces – marking the first time such a nationwide initiative has been undertaken in Sri Lanka in a unified fashion.
It may be recalled that the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution piloted by India in 2014, proclaiming June 21 each year as the International Day of Yoga. The resolution was supported by more than 170 countries, with Sri Lanka being one of its proud co-sponsors.

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Mathews bows out of Test cricket

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Angelo Mathews ended his final Test innings today (June 21) after being dismissed during the Test match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at Galle International Stadium.

Mathews was dismissed after scoring just 8 runs off 45 balls after being caught by Mominul Haque. The match also ended as a draw.

Mathews retires from the longest format of the game as he made 8,214 runs from 119 Tests at an average of 44.4, with 16 centuries and 49 half-centuries to his name. 

In 2013, Angelo Mathews was handed the leadership of the Test side for the first time in his career. He also became historic as the youngest Sri Lanka player to become Test captain. 

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