House for sexual favours in Sri Lanka: India joins probe

New Delhi, Oct 12: India has taken very serious note of the complaint lodged by a war displaced widow in Sri Lanka who had alleged that sexual favours had been sought in return for houses in a project funded by the Indian government. A probe now is being conducted by the Indian High Commission and the Sri Lanka Red Cross society into the matter.

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Jaffna in March 2015, he had handed over houses to war widows whose husbands were either killed or went missing during Sri-Lanka's war against the LTTE. New Delhi was informed about the complaint that was lodged by a war widow in Sri Lanka. It was stated that a Red Cross official has sought sexual favours in return for a house which is being funded by the Indian government.

New Delhi has instructed its high commission in Colombo that it would join the probe with the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS). New Delhi is also in touch with Sri Lanka and urged them not to permit any official under probe leave the country until the investigations are completed. India has said that this is for the first time that a complaint of this nature has been received and it is being viewed very seriously.

The Sunday Times in Sri Lanka had reported that a war displaced widow from Mulankavil had complained against an official at the Kilinochchi branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society. It was alleged that the official had sought sexual favours from her in order to approve funds for the construction of her house under the project.

The joint investigations would probe the allegations. There are also contradictory reports about the official under the scanner. While on one hand it is alleged that there was only one complaint, there are reports which suggest that there are nearly 30 such allegations. India has however taken the issue very seriously and has said that it would ensure a fair probe and the accused brought to book if found guilty.

OneIndia News