Exploitation of Domestic Workers by Sri Lankan Diplomats

Karina Baciu 

One of many similar cases surfaced, where Priyanka Danaratna was placed under exploitative working conditions by a Sri Lankan diplomatic official. Such practice allows officials to evade justice, under diplomatic immunity, raising concerns of human rights abuses of domestic workers and the lack of redress available.  

In a shocking yet unreported case, Himalee Arunatilaka, Sri Lanka’s former deputy high commissioner to Australia, has been fined over $100,000 by an Australian federal court for entrapping a domestic worker, Priyanka Danaratna, in exploitative labour conditions. 

This case sheds light on the broader issue of human rights abuses committed within diplomatic circles, where accountability remains elusive. The exploitation of domestic workers by diplomatic officials raises significant concerns about labour rights, human trafficking, and the lack of enforcement of international labour standards. 

Priyanka Danaratna was recruited as a domestic worker and brought to Australia under Arunatilaka’s employment. Reports indicate that she was forced to work 14-hour days, seven days a week, for less than a dollar per hour. Danaratna was subjected to isolation, deprived of fundamental freedoms, and denied her rightful wages. In a previous court ruling, Arunatilaka was ordered to pay over $500,000 in unpaid wages and interest, but she has so far failed to comply with the judgment. The Australian court’s recent fine serves as an attempt to ensure some measure of justice for Danaratna.

While this case has garnered some attention, it is not an isolated incident. There have been multiple allegations of Sri Lankan diplomatic officials engaging in similar exploitative practices. Diplomatic immunity often shields perpetrators from prosecution, making it difficult for victims to seek legal recourse. 

Furthermore, human rights organisations have documented cases where domestic workers employed by diplomats face conditions akin to modern slavery, including restricted movement, psychological abuse, and financial coercion. While diplomatic protections are necessary for international relations, these cases raise ethical and legal questions about how far immunity should extend when allegations of human rights abuses are made. 

Sources and further readings:

Australia Restricting Number of Domestic Workers Foreign Diplomats Can Bring into the Country 

Former Sri Lankan Diplomat in Australia Fined More Than $100,000 for Entrapping Domestic Worker 

I Felt Like a Prisoner: The Domestic Workers Trapped by Canberra’s Diplomatic Employers 

Stop Modern-Day Slavery of Migrant Domestic Workers and End Impunity of Diplomats 

Former Sri Lankan Diplomat Fined After Exploiting Domestic Worker 

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Defends Diplomat Over Exploitation of Worker