Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanka S. Bodaragama yesterday (11) ordered that a Madagascar woman accused of trafficking fellow citizens and forcing them into prostitution in Sri Lanka be remanded until 25 September.

The suspect was arrested by the Police Anti-Human Trafficking and Investigation Unit and produced in court on allegations that she lured women from Madagascar by promising them employment opportunities in Sri Lanka, only to coerce them into sex work once they arrived.

According to police submissions, the arrest followed a complaint lodged with the Ministry of Defence by one of the victims. Investigators revealed that the suspect had been residing in Sri Lanka for over five months without a valid visa and was allegedly involved in trafficking women and exploiting them.

Speaking in court from the dock, the accused pleaded for pardon and requested to be released so she could return to Madagascar. However, Magistrate Bodaragama ruled that a decision on her release could not be made while investigations were ongoing.

The Magistrate also instructed the police to notify the Madagascar embassy regarding the victims involved in the case.