Local job seekers promised merchant vessels but duped into working on fishing boats

The authorities have launched an inquiry into the alleged defrauding of at least 10 Lankan job seekers, by three local shipping companies, which promised them lucrative employment on foreign merchant vessels, in return for large fees, a top marine official said yesterday.

The three companies operating in the metropolis, with the connivance of an agent based in Singapore, had instead, dumped the unsuspecting employees on long-stay- ing fishing vessels, Merchant Shipping Director General Ajith Seneviratne said.

He added that, the company operators had been summoned to the Merchant Shipping Office and directed to repatriate the Lankans, believed to be somewhere on the Malaysian seas, on or before April 15.

“I have also appointed a four-member panel to go into the matter and finalise a report at the very earliest. I am also looking into the possible connections between the company operators and errant officials in this office,” he told the Sunday Times.

The Lankan job seekers have been away from their homes since early last year, and according to reports, they have not received their wages or allowed to contact their families.

The External Affairs Ministry has also been informed and told to alert our Mission in Singapore, Mr. Seneviratne added.