Sri Lankan arrested in Milan for alleged human trafficking is not a diplomat: MFA

The Sri Lankan national arrested at Malpensa Airport in Milan recently for allegedly trying to smuggle four youths into Italy is not a diplomat as news reports claimed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Accordingly, the Officials of the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Milan have met the person arrested and have established his identity. It has been confirmed that the arrested person is not at present employed at any Sri Lanka Mission abroad or at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The person concerned does not hold a valid Diplomatic Passport and has travelled to Italy on an Official Passport issued to him on the basis of his employment in a government agency in Sri Lanka." a statement from the ministry said. It has also been established that this person had held a diplomatic assignment abroad on contract from 2012-2015 and was in possession of a Diplomatic Passport that had been cancelled, upon completion of his contract.