In a significant development, the government of Myanmar has agreed to collaborate in the release of 56 Sri Lankans who have been forcibly detained by a terror group, subjected to cyber slavery. The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Myanmar, Janaka Priyantha Bandara, confirmed this agreement following a special discussion with Burmese officials.
The ordeal unfolded in December when reports surfaced about a group of Sri Lankans enticed with tourist visas under the false pretense of lucrative job opportunities in the IT sector. Trafficked to Myanmar through its border with Thailand, these individuals had not registered with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).
The Sri Lankans, now held against their will in a terrorist camp in Myawaddy—a region notorious for cybercrimes and under the control of an armed group—are reportedly being exploited as cyber slaves, compelled to engage in internet scams.
Unaware of the cybercrime camp initially, these individuals were misled about their job roles, being forced to pose as romantic partners to foreigners, particularly Europeans and Americans, with the aim of extorting money. Refusal to comply with these demands reportedly leads to torture, including electrocution, waterboarding in cages, hanging by hands, and starvation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that similar incidents have been reported since 2022, with 32 Sri Lankans having been rescued between 2022 and 2023. Expressing concerns about the safety of Sri Lankan nationals, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry raised the issue with his Myanmar counterpart Than Swe during the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Bangkok, Thailand.
Minister Sabry, in a recent telephone conversation with Myanmar Foreign Minister Than Swe on January 03, reiterated the urgency of the situation and sought the assistance of the Myanmar government for the prompt release of the captive Sri Lankans.
Responding to the gravity of the situation, the Human Trafficking, Human Smuggling, and Maritime Crimes Division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) initiated two special investigations. Based on complaints received by the police, four suspects—including three Sri Lankans and a Chinese national—have been identified
