New laws helpful

By Lake Argent


The United States say laws introduced in Sri Lanka recently to combat human trafficking is a step in the right direction to eradicating the scourge and prosecuting perpetrators.

Speaking at the launch of an awareness program to discourage exploitation and trafficking, the US Ambassador in Colombo Patricia Butenis commended the Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry and the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau stating they had taken the lead to combat the crime.

Butenis joined Sri Lanka cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara in Colombo this evening at the launch of a program and documentary against human trafficking produced by the US based Music Television (MTV) in partnership with USAID.

Speaking at the event, the envoy also drew reference to the abuse of a Sri Lankan maid in Saudi Arabia who had 24 nails and pins inserted in her body by her Saudi Arabia, and said she hoped justice will be served for the maid.

Sri Lanka Cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara meanwhile noted that Sri Lanka is a source to those who traffic humans and it is now time for the whole of Sri Lanka to stand up against the crime.

The campaign Director for MTV EXIT, the program which focuses on exploitation, Simon Goff said that trafficking is of critical importance in Sri Lanka in terms of vulnerable young people being trafficked and the exploitation of trafficked victims.

Hollywood actresses Angelina Jolie and Lucy Liu are among the celebrities of MTV EXIT’s programs against human trafficking. The latest program titled ‘Sold’ is presented by Kumar Sangakkara and premiered in Colombo today. (Daily Mirror online)

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