– Ranthatige Nissanka Priyadarshana alias ‘Dubai Sudda’, who allegedly used tourist visas to send Sri Lankans for employment in Dubai and Moldova, was arrested by officers of the Special Investigation Division of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) in the Kaduwela area today (1).Dubai Sudda, a former United National Party member of the Bulathsinhala Pradeshiya Sabha, was arrested following a complaint lodged by a resident of Giriulla alleging that the suspect had promised employment opportunities in Dubai but failed to provide them after obtaining money.  Investigators said that the suspect had allegedly arranged for Sri Lankans to travel to Dubai and Moldova on tourist visas for employment purposes.

According to the Bureau, the suspect had recently returned to the island and was arrested while attempting to flee in his private vehicle after evading officers who arrived to apprehend him. Officials further said that the suspect had allegedly operated the racket through social media and was considered a key figure involved in sending workers to Dubai on tourist visas.The Bureau also said that the suspect had previously been arrested over similar offences and later released on bail.

He is scheduled to be produced before the Kuliyapitiya Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment reiterated that recruiting individuals for overseas employment without a valid license issued by the Bureau is illegal.

The Bureau requested anyone affected by the alleged racket to contact its Special Investigations Division on 0112 882 229.