The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia has strongly cautioned Sri Lankan youth against exploring illegal migration corridors through Africa to reach destinations in Europe or North America, following the safe repatriation of three Sri Lankan nationals who were rescued from human traffickers in Ethiopia.
Issuing a statement, the Embassy stated that border controls across African transit nations are exceptionally tight, and engaging with unauthorized human smugglers exposes individuals to grave safety hazards, human exploitation, exorbitant visa overstays penalties, and severe legal consequences.
The Embassy advised all citizens to engage exclusively through official, legitimate channels.
The three Sri Lankan nationals were rescued from a human trafficking network in Ethiopia following a coordinated operation by Ethiopian security authorities and were safely repatriated to Sri Lanka on 30 July 2026 after completing necessary judicial procedures and consular formalities.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Addis Ababa said the individuals had arrived at Bole International Airport on 24 May 2026, seeking passage to Europe or North America through irregular travel channels. Shortly after their arrival, they were abducted by a human trafficking network, leading to their disappearance and subsequent ransom demands of USD 30,000 per individual conveyed to their families in Sri Lanka.
