NCPA probe into child trafficking

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

The National Child Protection Bureau (NCPA) has launched an investigation into the trafficking of two girls aged between 13 and 14 years from up country whose bodies were found dumped in a canal at Bauddhaloka Mawatha area last week. Meanwhile the Cinnamon Gardens Police are conducting an inquiry into the deaths of two girls who were employed as domestic servants in two separate homes in the Cinnamon Gardens area, NCPA sources told the Sunday Observer.

According to the NCPA sources the employees of the employment agency that brought down the underaged girls will be summoned to Colombo to record their statements as to why underaged girls were recruited for employment. “We will take drastic action against those who brokered the girls for employment.”

Meanwhile the death regarding the two underaged girls was brought to the notice of the NCPA by a Non-Governmental Organisation.

Sources said the underaged girls from the Upper Division of St. Andrew’s Estate at Lakshapana Norton Bridge were brought to Colombo unlawfully by the employment agency to be employed as domestic servants. The victims were identified as Lectuman Sumathi (15) and Maduraweeran Jeevarani (14) of St. Andrew’s Estate at Lakshapana. The girls were born in 1994 and in 1995 respectively in Lakshapana area.

According to investigations the girls employed since April, 2009 were found missing since 14th August, 2009. Subsequently the dead bodies of both girls were found in a waste water canal at Bauddhaloka Mawatha Colombo on 15th August, 2009. The girls were employed at two residences since April and March, 2009.

The local police are investigating whether it was a suicide or a homicide and whether the suicide notes left behind by them were genuine. The police are awaiting the autopsy report to determine whether foul play was involved. “However parents of both girls suspect foul play, owing to the mysterious circumstances under which they committed suicide.” An NCPA spokesman said the biggest problem regarding child labour and trafficking was that it was hidden and invisible. Fighting against it was hard unless Non-Governmental Organisations, religious groups, professionals, the media and the civil society fight against such crimes.