Man arrested for selling nearly 30 new born babies
A suspect who was involved child trafficking has been arrested in Matale on charges of child trafficking.
The Police said preliminary investigations have uncovered that the man has sold nearly 30 new born babies to date.
The 47-year-old man was arrested following investigations launched by the Women and Child Bureau of the Police based on a video shared on social media relating to the man’s child trafficking operation.
The Police said the man had met women facing financial difficulties at his facilities in two areas in Moratuwa and had entered in to agreements with them to provide cash in exchange for the newborn child.
Investigations have led to the discovery of 12 pregnant women, another 12 women among whom five had already handed over their children to third parties for money and three were found with their children.
The Police said the suspect who is a resident of Matale will be produced before the Moratuwa Magistrate’s Court today.
Investigations have been launched into another few suspects identified to be involved in child trafficking in Sri Lanka, while the Police will initiate legal action against them and those assisting the suspects.
In October an organization named CSC Nation Lanka sparked controversy in social media after photos posted by its chairman on Facebook showed how he facilitated childless couples to adopt new born children.
The Ceylon Today reported at the time that the chairman, Manjula Ukwatte in a massive social media campaign claimed on the organization’s Facebook page that he shelters helpless pregnant women until they deliver their babies and the newborns are later put up for adoption.
The National Child Protection Authority has confirmed that the suspect arrested in Matale is the Chairman of the CSC Nation Lanka organization Manjula Ukwatte. (NewsWire)